kaffir

The story

1. Dutch · borrowed fromkaffer
2. Spanish · borrowed fromcafre
3. Arabic · derived fromكَفَّار“infidel”
4. English todaykaffir

Ultimately from Arabic كَفَّار (kaffār, “infidel”) or كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”), both from كَفَرَ (kafara, “to cover, to hide”); in some (especially early) uses, via Spanish cafre, Dutch kaffer or other European languages. Doublet of kafir.

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.
• from 16th c. A member of the Nguni people of southern Africa, especially a Xhosa.
• from 17th c. A black person.
• from 19th c. A language spoken by the Nguni peoples of southern Africa, especially Xhosa.
• from early 20th c. South African mining shares