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askari

[as-kuh-ree]
noun, plural as·ka·ris, as·ka·ri.
  1. a native African police officer or soldier, especially one serving a colonial administration.
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Origin of askari

1885–90; < Swahili < Arabic ʿaskarī soldier, equivalent to ʿaskar army (< Persian lashkar; cf. lascar) + -ī suffix of appurtenance
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for askari

Historical Examples

  • The canoes were unloaded, and the stores and ammunition given to the Askari to carry.

    Samba

    Herbert Strang

  • For some hours he followed the path on which his uncle and he had been escorted by the Askari.

    Samba

    Herbert Strang

  • It was just at this point that they met a party of Askari marching in the other direction.

    Samba

    Herbert Strang

  • A few minutes later six Askari came from the thick wall of bush.

    Samba

    Herbert Strang

  • In the darkness that still lingered the other side of the camp an askari challenged sharply some lurking wanderer.

    The Leopard Woman

    Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for askari

askari

noun
  1. (in East Africa) a soldier or policeman
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Word Origin

C19: from Arabic: soldier
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012