Editing Peshmerga (section)

==Etymology==
The word "Peshmerga" can be translated to "to stand in front of death",<ref>{{cite web |first=Allegra |last=Stratton |title=Hero of the people |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/node/153517 |work=[[New Statesman]] |date=26 June 2006 |access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Koerner |first=Brendan |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2003/03/are_kurdish_soldiers_facing_death_or_seeking_death.html |title=What does the Kurdish word Peshmerga mean? |website=Slate.com |date=2003-03-21 |access-date=2016-10-18}}</ref><ref>From the [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] ''{{lang|ku|pêş}}'' ({{lang|ckb|{{big|پێش}}}}) "before" and ''{{lang|ku|merg}}'' {{lang|ckb|{{big|مەرگ}}}} "death".</ref> and Valentine states it was first used by [[Qazi Muhammad]] in the short-lived [[Republic of Mahabad|Mahabad Republic]] (1946–47).<ref>Valentine, Those Who Face Death, KDP, 2018.</ref> The word is understandable to [[Persian language|Persian]] speakers.<ref>{{cite book |first=Donald |last=Stilo |title=Aspects of Iranian Linguistics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nlkZBwAAQBAJ&q=pishmarg+word&pg=PA15|publisher =Cambridge Scholars Publishing |date=March 2008 |isbn=9781443810135 |access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> Because, the name was also used to refer to an elite unit within the [[Military of the Sasanian Empire|Sassanid Empire's military]], specifically a sub-unit of the [[Pushtigban]], called the [[Gyan-Avspar|Gyan-avspar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gyan-Avspar - The Sassanids (Empire Divided) - Total War: Rome II |url=https://www.honga.net/totalwar/rome2/unit.php?l=ja&v=rome2&f=3c_sassanid&u=3c_Sas_Gyan_Avspar_commander |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Royal Military Academy}}</ref> These warriors were renowned for their unwavering loyalty and bravery, often serving as the last line of defense for the [[List of monarchs of the Sasanian Empire|Sassanid kings]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hughes |first=Ian |url=https://books.google.iq/books?id=1bfNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT45&dq=Gyan-avspar+peshmerga&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiv4fjE96iNAxWgQ_EDHc6hI74Q6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=Gyan-avspar%20peshmerga&f=false |title=Belisarius: The Last Roman General |date=2009-01-15 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=978-1-84468-941-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Farrokh |first=Kaveh |url=https://www.google.iq/books/edition/Sassanian_Elite_Cavalry_AD_224_642/9SguvgAACAAJ?hl=en&kptab=overview |title=Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224–642 |date=2005-07-13 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-84176-713-0 |pages=6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Lead Miniatures.Heavy Armed Sassanid Knight. The Army of Gyan – Avspar P {{!}} #1758881952 |url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/russian-lead-miniatures-heavy-armed-1758881952 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Worthpoint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Aladić |first=Dubravko |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374531936_Roman-Sassanian_Conflict_in_the_Third_Century_Campaigns_of_Shapur_I_and_the_Battle_of_Edessa |title=Roman-Sassanian Conflict in the Third Century Campaigns of Shapur I and the Battle of Edessa}}</ref>