sirdar

Where does the word "sirdar" come from? It comes from Persian sar + -dar, passing through Hindi/Urdu before entering English (1800s).

Sirdar’s story begins in Persian: sar + -dar meant “head-holder, commander.” Compound of sar, "head," and -dar, "holder". By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Hindi/Urdu as sirdar. Used as a title for military and community leaders in South Asia. It reached English by 1800s as sirdar. Kitchener was Sirdar of the Egyptian army in the 1890s. Today, sirdar means a military commander-in-chief, or a title of leadership historically used in India, Egypt, and Sudan.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval sar + -dar "head-holder, commander", compound of sar, "head," and -dar, "holder".
2. Stage 2 · Hindi/Urdu · 1700s sirdar "leader, chief", used as a title for military and community leaders in South Asia.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s sirdar "commander-in-chief", Kitchener was Sirdar of the Egyptian army in the 1890s.