Khodami Knives-Why Are They Called This?

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Iain

The etymological source of the term wasn't given in the reference I found, which was examining Algerian as modern language incorporating both Berber and Arabic and basing the term on the French colonial practice of considering it under the umbrella of "Algerian Arabic".

I'm not familiar with any particularly similar word in other Berber dialects such as Tamazight. Sadly I haven't found many good resources for Berber dialects and dictionaries online.

Thanks very much Iain, I was hoping you would help out as your acumen in seeking these 'dialetic' matters in North Africa has always been amazing. After all you were the one who FINALLY found the source for the term 'kaskara' when nobody else could, or frankly even asked.

The fascination with the 'name game' around here has sort of conditioned me to seek more on weapon terms, and ask why? I know it may seem trite to many, but for me its fun to learn more and satisfy curiosity.

We have seen terms used in a general sense in other cultures with swords such as kilij; tulwar; and of course sa'if…...all generally used for 'sword....not otherwise specified' (as Lee once noted). However in certain cases there seem to be deeper meanings or colloquial instigations.

My initial search for these knives inadvertently I came across the word/term 'khodmi' has to do with certain Islamic metaphysic beliefs often known to prevail in North African tribal folk religions. In this case the word describes a kind of Angelic presence of a personal nature rather than the more universal host of Angels. These are of protective character against the djinn and it seems that many examples of 'khodmi' knives have apotropaic geometrics and symbols on their blades.

As we know that the flyssa, also of course of Berber origins, has in its characteristic decoration a field of apotropaic and personal devices which are protective in this same manner.

Is it possible that these knives, typically referred to as Bou Saadi, for the regions where they became well known through examples hawked to French tourists, might perhaps have been colloquially known to tribal persons as 'khodami' for the talismanic values held in them personally?

We have seen these kinds of colloquialisms have become ingrained in 'collectors parlance' through transliterations and assumption in accounts of travelers and western writers. Is it possible this 'local' term became used in these dialects as a term for the apparent range of variants of these purposeful knives?

I realize this entails a good deal more in depth study, but possibly readers out there might have some insight into this topic from personal experience in these regions.

I would ask the forbearance of those who might consider this suggestion unseemly or unlikely, and would note that it has been prompted not only by the coincidental finding of this term, but by the other cases of such applications on other edged weapons with such talismanic properties in North African regions.