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Where does the word "mogul" come from? It comes from Persian Mughul, passing through Urdu before entering English (1580s).
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Where does the word "mogul" come from? It comes from Persian Mughul, passing through Urdu before entering English (1580s).
Mogul’s story begins in Persian: Mughul meant “Mongol.” 'Mongol'. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Urdu as Mughal. The dynasty founded by Babur, from the Fergana valley, who conquered northern India in 1526. It reached English by 1580s as mogul. From the 'Great Mogul' of travellers' tales; 'movie moguls' date from the 1920s. Today, mogul means an important or powerful person.
- Stage 1 · Persian · medieval Mughul "Mongol", 'Mongol'.
- Stage 2 · Urdu · 1500s Mughal "Mughal", the dynasty founded by Babur, from the Fergana valley, who conquered northern India in 1526.
- Stage 3 · English · 1580s mogul "powerful person", from the 'Great Mogul' of travellers' tales; 'movie moguls' date from the 1920s.