Laskar
/ˈlɑːs.kɑːr/noun
A sailor, especially one from South Asia or another region east of the Cape of Good Hope.
Did you know?The related word “lascar” became a major British maritime term for South Asian sailors employed aboard European ships, especially from the 16th century onward.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Persian
Middle Persian
laškar
“Army or military force”
Medieval Persian
Persian
laškar
“Army, troops, or military camp”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
al-ʿaskar
“The army; an Arabic borrowing of Persian laškar”
16th Century
Portuguese
lascarim / lascar
“A sailor from South or Southeast Asia, especially one serving on European ships”
17th Century
English
lascar
“An Asian sailor or seaman”
Modern English
English
laskar
“A variant spelling of lascar, meaning a sailor of Asian origin”