Persian

Etymology

Came into English from Middle English Persien, from Middle French persien, from Italian persiano, from Medieval Latin Persiānus, from Persia (itself from Persēs/Persa, “Persian man” — from Ancient Greek Πέρσης (Pérsēs), itself from Old Persian ???? (p-a-r-s /⁠Pārsa⁠/, “Persian”) plus -ia, a suffix forming country names) plus -iānus. Equivalent to Pers(ia) plus -ian. Compare Early Classical Persian پارس (pārs) or modern Iranian Persian فارس (fârs), showing the shift p > f.

Origin: Middle English