spahi

Where does the word "spahi" come from? It comes from Persian sipāhī, passing through Ottoman Turkish and French before entering English (1560s).

Spahi’s story begins in Persian: sipāhī meant “soldier.” From 'sipāh', army; the same word reached English as 'sepoy' through India. By 1300s-1600s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as sipahi. Cavalrymen paid with 'timar' land grants instead of wages, the backbone of early Ottoman armies. From there it passed into French as spahi by 1830s. France raised Algerian spahi cavalry regiments from 1834, known for their red cloaks. It reached English by 1560s as spahi. First used for Ottoman horsemen, later for France's North African cavalry. Today, spahi means an Ottoman cavalryman; later a North African cavalryman in the French army.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval sipāhī "soldier", from 'sipāh', army; the same word reached English as 'sepoy' through India.
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · 1300s-1600s sipahi "cavalryman", cavalrymen paid with 'timar' land grants instead of wages, the backbone of early Ottoman armies.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1830s spahi "Algerian cavalryman", France raised Algerian spahi cavalry regiments from 1834, known for their red cloaks.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1560s spahi "an Ottoman or Algerian cavalryman", first used for Ottoman horsemen, later for France's North African cavalry.