Giaour orGawur orGavour (/ˈdʒaʊər/;Turkish:gâvur,Turkish pronunciation:[ɟaˈvuɾ]; fromPersian:گورgâvor;[a]Romanian:ghiaur;Albanian:kaur;Greek:γκιαούρης,romanized: gkiaoúris;Bulgarian:гяур;Bosnian; kaur/đaur) meaning "infidel", is a slur used mostly in the lands of the formerOttoman Empire fornon-Muslims or, more particularly,Christians in theBalkans.[1][2]
The terms "kafir", "gawur", and "rûm" (the last meaning "Rum millet") were commonly used indefters (tax registries) forOrthodox Christians, usually without ethnic distinction. Christian ethnic groups in the Balkan lands of the Ottoman Empire includedGreeks (rûm),Bulgarians (bulgar),Serbs (sırp),Albanians (arnavut) andVlachs (eflak), among others.[2]
The1911Encyclopædia Britannica described the term as follows:
Giaour (aTurkish adaptation of thePersiangâwr orgōr, aninfidel), a word used by theTurks to describe all who are not Mohammedans, with especial reference to Christians. The word, first employed as a term of contempt and reproach, has become so general that in most cases no insult is intended in its use; for example in parts ofChina, the termforeign devil has become void of offence. A strict analogy to giaour is found in the Arabickafir, or unbeliever, which is so commonly in use as to have become the proper name of peoples and countries.
During theTanzimat (1839–1876) era, ahatt-i humayun prohibited the use of the term by Muslims with reference to non-Muslims[3]to prevent problems occurring in social relationships.[4][need quotation to verify]
Musselmans and Giaours
Throw kerchiefs at a smile, and have no ruth
For any weeping.
The Turkish term "giaour" a term of contempt, was applied to these Balkan Christians,
In the Ottoman defters, Orthodox Christians are as a rule recorded as kâfir or gâvur (infidels) or (u)rum.
The application of the wordgiaour,dog, is forbidden by the Hatt-i-Humayoou [...].
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Giaour".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 927.