Sounds like 'Daas' - Arabic or 'to trample or crush' something underfoot

Mr Cameron also criticised the BBC for failing to refer to them as Daesh

started to call ISIS using term their hard-liners won't like

Islamic State is to re-branded 'Daesh' by the Government - because its hard-line leaders do not like the word.

David Cameron said the word would be used in all official references to the fanatics as he attacked the BBC for its refusal to do the same.

Downing Street denied the move had anything to do with 'political correctness. Officials believe the name Islamic State legitimises the terror group.

Insult: Islamic State is to rebranded 'Daesh' by the Government - because its hard-line members (pictured) supposedly do not like the word because it means 'crush' in Arabic

The Prime Minster said he had decided to use the term after listening to arguments from allies such as the French, who have been using Daesh for months.

Criticism: David Cameron said Daesh would be used in all official references to the fanatics as he attacked the BBC for its refusal to do the same

And he said he agreed with a Tory backbencher that the Corporation should revise its 'bizarre policy' of referring to the jihadists as 'so-called Islamic State'.

Daesh comes from the Arabic phrase 'al Dawlah al-Islameyah fi Iraq wal-Sham' – the Arabic equivalent of the name ISIS.

The term is used by the enemies of Islamic State and is disliked by its leaders. It sounds similar to the word 'Daas', which means to trample or crush something underfoot.

The Prime Minister frequently used the name ISIL during his statement, but added: 'I feel that it is time to join our key ally, France, the Arab League, and other members of the international community in using, as frequently as possible, the terminology 'Daesh' rather than ISIL.

'This evil death cult is neither a true representation of Islam nor a state.'

In June, Mr Cameron used an appearance on the Today programme to criticise the BBC for its use of the term Islamic State.

The Corporation replied that it would not use the term Daesh because it would break its impartiality rules and risked giving the 'impression of support' to other Syrian fighters.

Yesterday, Tory MP Rehman Chishti asked Mr Cameron: 'Will the Prime Minister join me in urging the BBC to review its bizarre policy?

'We are at war with terrorists, and we have to defeat their ideology and appeal: we have to be united.'

Mr Cameron replied: 'I agree with my honourable friend, and I have already corresponded with the BBC about its use of 'IS' – Islamic State – which I think is even worse than either saying 'so-called IS' or, indeed, 'ISIL'.

'Daesh' is clearly an improvement, and it is important that we all try and use this language.'