Nishani
/nɪʃɑːniː/noun
A sign, mark, token, keepsake, or memorial in Hindi and Urdu.
Did you know?In Sikh usage, Nishan Sahib is the sacred flag outside a gurdwara, making nishan a visible sign of identity, sanctuary, and communal protection.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Persian period
Middle Persian
nišān
“A mark, sign, indication, or distinguishing emblem.”
Medieval Persian
Persian
نشان (nišān)
“A sign, mark, symbol, badge, or imperial designation.”
Medieval Turkic period
Ottoman Turkish
nişan
“A mark, sign, decoration, or official distinction, borrowed from Persian.”
Medieval–Early Modern period
Hindi/Urdu
निशान / نشان (niśān)
“A sign, mark, standard, trace, or emblem.”
Modern South Asian usage
Hindi/Urdu
निशानी / نشانی (niśānī)
“A token, memento, souvenir, memorial sign, or identifying mark.”
Modern English usage
English
nishani
“A transliterated South Asian term used in names, cultural writing, and discussions of symbols or keepsakes.”
Explore more surprising origins