سرهنگ

Persian

Etymology

From Middle Persian 𐫘𐫡𐫍𐫗𐫃 (srhng /⁠sarhang⁠/, “commander”).

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “سر (sar) is likely in the "head" sense, but what is the interpretation and further origin of (hang)?”

Pronunciation

(Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [saɾ.hanɡ]

(Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [säɾ.häŋɡ]
- (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾäŋɡ]
- (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾäŋɡ̥]

(Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [sæɹ.hæɲɡʲ̥]

(Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [säɾ.häŋɡ]

Readings
Classical reading^?	sarhang
Dari reading^?	sarhang
Iranian reading^?	sarhang
Tajik reading^?	sarhang

Noun

سرهنگ • (sarhang) (plural سرهنگ‌ها (sarhang-hâ) or سرهنگان (sarhangân))

(archaic) captain, chief, commander
(military, Iran) colonel

Descendants

→ Azerbaijani: sərhəng
Persian: هنگ (hang, “regiment”)

References

Dehkhoda, Ali-Akbar (1931–) “سرهنگ”, in Dehkhoda Dictionary Institute, editors, Dehkhoda Dictionary (in Persian), Tehran: University of Tehran Press