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Revision as of 14:29, 21 May 2006 by 81.21.45.44 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Giaour, written gavur in modern Turkish, is a word used by Turkish people to describe all who are non Muslims, with particular reference to Christians and at times to Greeks.
The word is a Turkish adaptation of the Persian gdwr or gbr, an infidel. The term was first employed as a term of contempt and reproach, but has become so general that in most cases no insult is intended in its use. A similar fate happened to the Arabic equivalent kaffir, or unbeliever, which was so widespread that it became the proper name of various peoples and countries (see Kaffir).
See also
- The Giaour, a poem by Lord Byron
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
