arnaut
|ar-naut|
🇺🇸
/ɑrˈnaʊt/
🇬🇧
/ɑːˈnaʊt/
Albanian (historical ethnonym)
Etymology
'arnaut' originates from Ottoman Turkish, specifically the word 'arnavut', where 'arnavut' meant 'Albanian'.
'arnaut' changed from Ottoman Turkish 'arnavut' and entered various European languages (appearing in travelogues, military contexts and consular reports in the 17th–19th centuries), eventually being used in English as the archaic/dated ethnonym 'arnaut'.
Initially, it meant 'an Albanian (often a soldier or mercenary under Ottoman service)'; over time the term fell out of general use in English and was replaced by the modern term 'Albanian'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of the Albanian people; historically (especially in Ottoman and 18th–19th century European contexts) used to refer to an Albanian, often an Albanian soldier or mercenary.
In the 19th century, many arnauts served in the Ottoman army.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/17 10:54