Hindu Kush

Ultimately derived from Classical Persian هِنْدُوکُش (hindūkuš), the etymology of which is uncertain.

According to Ibn Battuta and popular etymology, from Classical Persian هِنْدُو (hindū, “Hindu”) +‎ کُش (kuš, present stem of کُشْتَن (kuštan, “to kill”)), literally “Hindu-killer”.

According to others, a corruption of Classical Persian هِنْدُوکوه (hindūkōh), itself a compound of هِنْدُو (hindū, “Hindu”) +‎ کوه (kōh, “mountain”), literally “mountain of the Hindus”, in which case the name would be related to the term Hindkowan used to describe people living near the region who speak Hindko.

Attested in English from the 18th century.