Aga

/ˈɑːɡə/ noun

Definition

A type of heat-storage stove or range, or historically, a high-ranking Ottoman military commander.

Etymology

Two distinct origins: the cooking range comes from the Swedish company name 'Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator' (1929), while the military title comes from Turkish ağa meaning 'chief, lord', from Old Turkic aqa meaning 'elder brother'.

Kelly Says

It's remarkable that 'aga' represents both Swedish engineering innovation and Ottoman military hierarchy - a perfect example of how the same letter combination can carry completely different cultural histories. The cooking Aga became so iconic in British country homes that it's now a status symbol representing a particular lifestyle.

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