Where did the term "ferengi" come from?

[Orsorum]

I know where it's from, but where does the word itself originate from? Does it have a meaning in any Earth language or was it just made up by Roddenberry or some other writer?

The reason I'm asking is I'm reading Michener's Caravans and there's a reference to the Afghan word for foreigner, which is pronounced ferangi apparently, and I wondered if there was any connection.

Cheers!
Nate

 

[TechnoKid]

hmmmm.....i would not know, but maybe google would. you have an interesting thought. I always thought that it came from the directors and makers of star trek. (imagine a group of people or one person thinking of words taht sound cool and catchy for a species....)

 

[fredtam]

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[Orsorum]

Woot! Close, there is an alternate spelling apparently which I guess is the Arabic word (not just in Afghanistan?) for foreigner. Thanks!