1
Stage 1 of 3
sar + -dar
Persian · medieval
"head-holder, commander"
compound of sar, "head," and -dar, "holder"
2
Stage 2 of 3
sirdar
Hindi/Urdu · 1700s
"leader, chief"
used as a title for military and community leaders in South Asia
3
Stage 3 of 3
sirdar
English · 1800s
"commander-in-chief"
adopted by the British for commanders-in-chief in India and Egypt/Sudan
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