spahi

noun

spa·​hi ˈspä-ˌhē How to pronounce spahi (audio)
1
: one of a former corps of irregular Turkish cavalry
2
: one of a former corps of Algerian native cavalry in the French army

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Turkish sipahi, from Persian sipāhī cavalryman

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spahi was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near spahi

Cite this Entry

“Spahi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spahi. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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