devshirme

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish دیوشیرمه (devşirme, literally collection, gathering) (Turkish devşirme).

Noun

devshirme (uncountable)

  1. (historical) Systematic collection of non-Muslim boys or young men from rural Christian populations of the Balkans, practiced by Ottomans; the boys were taken to Istanbul, converted to Islam and educated for military profession or religious disciplines.

Translations

See also