Brewer's: Saracens

Ducange derives this word from Sarah (Abraham's wife); Hottinger from the Arabic saraca (to steal); Forster from sahra (a desert); but probably it is the Arabic sharakyoun or sharkeyn (the eastern people), as opposed to Magharibë (the western people —i.e. of Morocco). Any unbaptised person was called a Saracen in mediaeval romance. (Greek, Surakenos.)

“So the Arabs, or Saracens, as they are called ... gave men the choice of three things.” —E. A. Freeman: General Sketch, chap. vi. p. 117.

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