'badawi' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'badawī' (بدوي), where the root 'badw/bedu' referred to the open desert and its nomadic inhabitants.

'badawi' entered English as a direct transliteration of Arabic 'badawī'; a related form passed into European languages (e.g. French 'bédouin') and influenced the English word 'Bedouin'.

Initially, it meant 'a person of the desert' (a desert-dweller); over time it has been used both as a common noun for Bedouin people and as a surname or adjective referring to Bedouin-related traits.