'askar' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'عَسْكَر' (ʿaskar), where the root meant 'army' or 'host'.

'askar' passed into Persian and Urdu with the same form and meaning ('askar'), and was later borrowed into English in historical or regional contexts from those languages.

Initially it meant 'army' or 'host' in Arabic; in English usage it typically denotes 'soldier' or (collectively) 'military forces', retaining the general martial sense.