What does the word - COSSACK mean?

We are proud of our roots and the history of our Cossack people, our ancestors strong and independent Cossacks. However, not everyone knows how this word originated and why people were called that way.

The initial Mongolian chronicle in 1240. In the 14th century this term is included in the dictionary of the Polovtsian language (Codex Cumanicus) and in the appendix of the Greek collection of the lives of saints. The earliest mention of the Cossacks in Western Europe is found in the Genoese chronicle of 1474. The first official mention in history of the actions of the Cossacks at sea and the official mention of the Zaporozhian Cossacks in general is the year 1492, when the Zaporozhians attacked the Turkish naval galley near Tyagina, this is stated in the letter of Grand Duke Alexander to Khan Mengli I Gerai.

Today, there are 2 most likely versions of the origin of the word - Cossack:

1) From Polovtsian "Cosac" — "guard", "chota", "easy to learn". Found in "Codex cumanicus".

The first attempt at a scientific explanation of the word Cossack was made by D. I. Yavornytskyi, who wrote: "Linguists see two words in the word "Cossack", or more fully "Kaysak": " kai " - easy and " sak " - pack, i.e. easy to learn

Perhaps this will be the basis for the introduction of a new version about the origin of the Cossacks from the remnants of the army (horde) of Tartary. Part of the horde, after the collapse of Tartary, was left without work and was sent to the borders of Europe, where it was hired for military service.

Thus, both the concept and the name of the word "Cossack" first appeared in Central Asia, from where it apparently passed to Russia. But it could pass to the land of Russia only with the arrival of Turko-Tatars, which is indicated by the fact that before the appearance of Turko-Tatars in Russia, the word "Cossack" is not found in any list of chronicles.