2,363 entries
ABADA
s. A word used by old Spanish and Portuguese writers for a 'rhinoceros,' and adopted by some of the older English narrators. The origin is a little doubtful. If it were certain tha…
13 citations, earliest 1541
ABCÁREE/ ABKÁRY
H. from P. āb-kārī , the business of distilling or selling (strong) waters, and hence elliptically the excise upon such business. This last is the sense in which it is used by Angl…
3 citations
ABIHÓWA
Properly P. āb-o-hawā , 'water and air.' The usual Hindustani expression for 'climate.'
1 citation, earliest 1786
ABYSSINIA
n.p. This geographical name is a 16-century Latinisation of the Arabic Ḥabash , through the Portuguese Abex , bearing much the same pronunciation, minus the aspirate. [See HUBSHEE.…
2 citations, earliest 1598
A. C
( i.e. 'after compliments'). In official versions of native letters these letters stand for the omitted formalities of native compliments.
ACHÁNOCK
n.p. H. Chānak and Achānak . The name by which the station of Barrackpore is commonly known to Sepoys and other natives. Some have connected the name with that of Job Charnock , or…
6 citations, earliest 1677
ACHÁR
s. P. āchār , Malay ắchār , adopted in nearly all the vernaculars of India for acid and salt relishes. By Europeans it is used as the equivalent of 'pickles,' and is applied to all…
10 citations, earliest 1563
ACHEEN
n.p. (P. Āchīn [Tam. Attai , Malay Acheh , Achih ] 'a wood-leech'). The name applied by us to the State and town at the N.W. angle of Sumatra, which was long, and especially during…
12 citations, earliest 1549
ADAM'S APPLE
This name ( Pomo d'Adamo ) is given at Goa to the fruit of the Mimusops Elengi , Linn. ( Birdwood ); and in the 1635 ed. of Gerarde's Herball it is applied to the Plantain. But in …
2 citations, earliest 1580
ADATI
s. A kind of piece-goods exported from Bengal. We do not know the proper form or etymology. It may have been of half-width (from H. ādhā , 'half'). [It may have been half the ordin…
2 citations, earliest 1726
ADAWLUT
s. Ar.—H.— 'adālat , 'a Court of Justice,' from 'adl , 'doing justice.' Under the Mohammedan government there were 3 such courts, viz., Nizāmat 'Adālat, Dīwānī 'Adālat, and Faujdār…
2 citations, earliest 1822
ADIGAR
s. Properly adhikār , from Skt. adhikārin , one possessing authority; Tam. adhikāri , or -kāren . The title was formerly in use in South India, and perhaps still in the native Stat…
8 citations, earliest 1544
ADJUTANT
s. A bird so called (no doubt) from its comical resemblance to a human figure in a stiff dress pacing slowly on a parade-ground. It is the H. haṛgīla , or gigantic crane, and popul…
6 citations
AFGHÁN
n.p. P.—H— Afghān . The most general name of the predominant portion of the congeries of tribes beyond the N.W. frontier of India, whose country is called from them Afghānistān . I…
9 citations, earliest 1020
AFRICO
n.p. A negro slave.
3 citations, earliest 1682
AGAR-AGAR
s. The Malay name of a kind of sea-weed ( Spherococcus lichenoïdes ). It is succulent when boiled to a jelly; and is used by the Chinese with birdsnest ( q.v. ) in soup. They also …
AGDAUN
s. A hybrid H. word from H. āg and P. dān , made in imitation of pīk-dān , ḳalam-dān , shama-dān ('spittoon, pencase, candlestick'). It means a small vessel for holding fire to lig…
ĀG-GĀRI
s. H. 'Fire carriage.' In native use for a railway train.
AGUN-BOAT
s. A hybrid word for a steamer, from H. agan , 'fire,' and Eng. boat . In Bombay Ag-bōt is used.
2 citations, earliest 1853
AK
s. H. āk and ark , in Sindi ăk : the prevalent name of the madār ( MUDDAR ) in Central and Western India. It is said to be a popular belief (of course erroneous) in Sind, that Akba…
AKALEE
or Nihang ('the naked one'), s. A member of a body of zealots among the Sikhs, who take this name 'from being worshippers of Him who is without time, eternal' ( Wilson ). Skt. a pr…
2 citations, earliest 1832
AKYÁB
n.p. The European name of the seat of administration of the British province of Arakan, which is also a port exporting rice largely to Europe. The name is never used by the natives…
1 citation, earliest 1826
ALA-BLAZE PAN
s. This name is given in the Bombay Presidency to a tinned-copper stew-pan, having a cover, and staples for straps, which is carried on the march by European soldiers, for the purp…
ALBACORE
s. A kind of rather large sea-fish, of the Tunny genus ( Thynnus albacora , Lowe, perhaps the same as Thynnus macropterus , Day); from the Port. albacor or albecora . The quotation…
4 citations, earliest 1579
ALBATROSS
s. The great sea-bird ( Diomedea exulans , L.), from the Port. alcatraz , to which the forms used by Hawkins and Dampier, and by Flacourt (according to Marcel Devic) closely approa…
11 citations, earliest 1564
ALCATIF
s. This word for 'a carpet' was much used in India in the 16th century, and is treated by some travellers as an Indian word. It is not however of Indian origin, but is an Arabic wo…
7 citations, earliest 1540
ALCORANAS
s. What word does Herbert aim at in the following? [The Stanf. Dict. regards this as quite distinct from Alcorān , the Korān, or sacred book of Mohammedans (for which see N.E.D. s.…
1 citation, earliest 1665
ALCOVE
s. This English word comes to us through the Span. alcova and Fr. alcove (old Fr. aucube ), from Ar. al-ḳubbàh , applied first to a kind of tent (so in Hebr. Numbers xxv. 8) and th…
1 citation, earliest 1738
ALDEA
s. A village; also a villa. Port. from the Ar. al-ḍai'a , 'a farm or villa.' Bluteau explains it as 'Povoção menor que lugar.' Lane gives among other and varied meanings of the Ar.…
6 citations, earliest 1547
ALEPPEE
n.p. On the coast of Travancore; properly Alappuḷi. [Mal. alappuzha , 'the broad river"—( Mad. Adm. Man. Gloss. s.v.)].
3 citations, earliest 1610
ALGUADA
n.p. The name of a reef near the entrance to the Bassein branch of the Irawadi R., on which a splendid lighthouse was erected by Capt. Alex. Fraser (now Lieut.-General Fraser, C.B.…
ALJOFAR
s. Port. 'seed-pearl.' Cobarruvias says it is from Ar. al-jauhar , 'jewel.'
3 citations, earliest 1404
ALLAHABAD
n.p. This name, which was given in the time of Akbar to the old Hindu Prayāg or Prāg ( PRAAG ) has been subjected to a variety of corrupt pronunciations, both European and native. …
4 citations, earliest 1666
ALLEJA
s. This appears to be a stuff from Turkestan called (Turki) alchah, alajah, or alāchah. It is thus described: "a silk cloth 5 yards long, which has a sort of wavy line pattern runn…
12 citations, earliest 1590
ALLIGATOR
s. This is the usual Anglo-Indian term for the great lacertine amphibia of the rivers. It was apparently in origin a corruption, imported from S. America, of the Spanish el or al l…
16 citations, earliest 1493
ALLIGATOR-PEAR
s. The fruit of the Laurus persea , Lin., Persea gratissima , Gaertn. The name as here given is an extravagant, and that of avocato or avogato a more moderate, corruption of aguaca…
14 citations, earliest 1532
ALMADIA
s. This is a word introduced into Portuguese from Moorish Ar. al-ma'dīya . Properly it means 'a raft' (see Dozy , s.v.). But it is generally used by the writers on India for a cano…
4 citations, earliest 1514
ALMANACK
s. On this difficult word see Dozy's Oosterlingen and N.E.D. In a passage quoted by Eusebius from Porphyry ( Praep. Evangel. t. iii. ed. Gaisford) there is mention of Egyptian cale…
ALMYRA
s. H. almārī . A wardrobe, chest of drawers, or like piece of (closed) furniture. The word is in general use, by masters and servants in Anglo-Indian households, in both N. and S. …
3 citations
ALOES
s. The name of aloes is applied to two entirely different substances: a. the drug prepared from the inspissated bitter juice of the Aloë Socotrina , Lam. In this meaning ( a ) the …
3 citations