askari

noun

as·​ka·​ri

ˈaskərē;

əˈskärē,

aˈs-

plural askaris or askari

1

: a native soldier especially of eastern Africa in the service of a European power

2

: a native police officer or guard of eastern Africa

Word History

Etymology

Arabic ʽaskarī

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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