Word Study
softa
CIDE DICTIONARY
softa, n. [Corruption of Per. s one who burns, is ardent or zealous.].
Any one attached to a Mohammedan mosque, esp. a student of the higher branches of theology in a mosque school. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
softa, n. a Muslim student of sacred law and theology.
Etymology
Turk. f. Pers. sukta burnt, afire
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