Saracen
/ˈsær.ə.sən/noun
A historical term used in medieval Europe for a Muslim, especially one from the Near East or North Africa.
Did you know?By the Middle Ages, Saracen had become a broad European catch-all for Muslims, showing how a single ethnonym can harden into a loaded religious-political label.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Sarakēnoi
“A name used by Greek writers for a people of Arabia or the Sinai region”
Late Latin
Latin
Saraceni
“A Romanized plural ethnonym applied to eastern desert peoples”
Old French
Old French
Sarrazin
“A medieval term for Muslims, especially in crusading and romance literature”
Middle English
English
Saracen
“A Muslim or pagan enemy in medieval European texts”
Modern English
English
Saracen
“A historical term for a Muslim, now archaic or offensive in many contexts”