THE MEANING OF “ANZAC”

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5501, 18 June 1917, Page 3

THE MEANING OF “ANZAC”

“ MOST IMPETUOUS!" Although the origin of the word 4 * Anzac ” is most jirobab'y to be found in the accidental arrangement of the initials of tlie Australian and New Zealand Array Corps, considerable interest was aroused some little time ago by the discovery tliai a similar word existed iu the vocabulary of tliu Arabs (says the Mel bourne Age”). Translated, the the Arabian word Anzac, or Anzag, is equivalent to the words “ to cause to jump.’’ At the time of this discovery it was suggested that the word might aptly have been used by the natives of Egypt to describe the men from “ down under. 4 ’ It has now, however, been ascertained from a competent Arabic authority that the word is also used by the Arabs to mean “ most impetuous.” This latest translation of the word has been brought under the notice of the Minister for Defeneo by BrigadierGeneral Foster, Acting Chief of the General Staff, who, in a minute on the matter, remarks that the word is so applicable to the Anzac troops iu this sense, that its existence in the Arabic language must be regarded as ■a remarkable aud very happy coincidence, which he considers would be greatly appreciated by Lieuteuaut‘Geueral Sir William Birdwood, commanding the Anzaes.