jackal
UK[ˈdʒækɔːl]US[ˈdʒækəl]
n
A wild animal of the dog family, found in Africa and Asia, that often hunts at night and eats the remains of dead animals.
n
A person who performs dishonest or unpleasant tasks for someone else.
Etymology
The word 'jackal' traveled a long linguistic route from East to West. Its ultimate origin is the Sanskrit word 'śṛgālaḥ', meaning "the howler". This term passed into Persian as 'shaghāl' and then into Turkish as 'çakal'. European languages, including English, adopted it in the 17th century through colonial and trade contacts, likely via French 'chacal'. The animal's name is thus a direct cultural import, reflecting its native habitat, and its secondary meaning—a person who does another's dirty work—arose from the mistaken belief that jackals hunted in servile support of lions.
Analysis
The word 'jackal' is a simplex loanword. It entered English from Turkish 'çakal', which came from Persian 'shaghāl', itself likely derived from Sanskrit 'śṛgālaḥ'.
Examples
The eerie cry of a jackal echoed across the savanna at dusk.
In the ancient fable, the lion was often accompanied by a cunning jackal.
He was accused of being a corporate jackal, taking over failing companies and stripping their assets.