köken: From Middle Persian [Book Pahlavi needed] (pdk' /payg/, “foot-soldier, courier”), ultimately from Proto-Iranian *pā́dah (“foot”). Cognate with Sanskrit पदिक (padika, “going on foot, pedestrian”). Compare the Iranian borrowings: Old Armenian պայիկ (payik), Georgian პაიკი (ṗaiḳi), Classical Syriac ܦܱܝܓܳܐ (faygā), Arabic فَيْج (fayj), فَوْج (fawj). Doublet of فوج (fowj).