Etymology

zouave

Zou·ave
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Today it means: One of a body of soldiers in the French service, originally Kabyle, but now composed of Frenchmen who wear the Kabyle dress. Full definition →

Arabic زَوَاوِيّ
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zouave · noun1

  1. Arabic · borrowed fromزَوَاوِيّ
  2. English todayzouave

Borrowed from Arabic زَوَاوِيّ (zawāwiyy).

Zouave · noun2

  1. Arabic · derived fromزَوَاوِيّ
  2. English todayZouave

From French, from Arabic زَوَاوِيّ (zawāwiyy), used to refer to a Kabyle soldier, especially of the Igawawen people.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.