parsi
UK[ˈpɑːsi]US[ˈpɑːrsi]
n
A member of a Zoroastrian community in India, descended from Persian refugees who fled Muslim persecution in the 7th–10th centuries.
n
The Iranian language spoken by the ancient Persians; Middle Persian.
Etymology
The term 'Parsi' entered English in the 17th century from Persian 'Fārsī' (پارسی), meaning "of or pertaining to Fars" (Persia). This Persian word itself derives from 'Pārs', the name of the central region of the ancient Persian Empire, ultimately from Old Persian 'Pārsa'. The English adoption reflects a specific historical and religious context, narrowing the general ethnic term "Persian" to denote the Zoroastrians who migrated from Persia to the Indian subcontinent to preserve their faith. Thus, the word's journey encapsulates a geographic origin, a cultural identity, and a distinct religious diaspora.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from Persian (Fārsī), meaning "Persian." It is a simplex form in English, adopted as a single lexical unit to refer specifically to the Zoroastrian community and their language.
Examples
The Parsi community in Mumbai is known for its significant contributions to business and philanthropy.
Navroz is the most important festival in the Parsi calendar.
She is studying the Parsi dialect of Gujarati for her anthropological research.