hijra

hijra · noun¹

1. Hindi · borrowed fromहीजड़ा
2. English todayhijra

From Hindi हीजड़ा (hījṛā).

hijra · noun²

1. Arabic · borrowed fromهِجْرَة“departure, exodus”
2. English todayhijra

From Arabic هِجْرَة (hijra, “departure, exodus”). Doublet of hegira.

Hijra · proper noun³

1. Arabic · borrowed fromهِجْرَة“departure, exodus”
2. English todayHijra

From Arabic هِجْرَة (hijra, “departure, exodus”), used in reference to Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, from the verb هَجَرَ (hajara, “emigrate, to abandon”). Doublet of Hegira, which went through Latin.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. A eunuch in South Asia, especially one who dresses as a woman.