askari
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of askari
First recorded in 1805–10; from Swahili, from Arabic ʿaskarī “soldier,” equivalent to ʿaskar “army” (from Persian lashkar) + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin); see origin at lascar
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The farm was an administrative headquarters and askari dormitory, equipped with a canteen, plenty of meat, a lovely view.
From The Guardian • Jun. 6, 2015
But some time after their last meeting, in October 1986, Ntehelang went from ANC guerrilla to askari.
From The Guardian • Jun. 6, 2015
Flat-footed askari scouts went padding in from their posts and the final advance on Addis Ababa started.
From Time Magazine Archive
The askari sat on a rock nearby, bouncing the machine gun on his knees, looking bored.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
His name was Polycarp Okuku, and he was an askari, an armed guard.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
