Indian

Description

Abdar

Servant who sets the table

Alkalak

Long coat worn by horsemen

Angrezi Raj

British Rule

Anna

coin 1/16 of a rupee

Atchan

Uniform jacket

Ayah

Female servant

Baba

Good person

Baba log

Good (loyal, honest) people, HEIC employees

Baboo

Clerk or scribe

Badmash

Evil person, insurgent, rioter etc

Badshah

Great King

Bakhsheesh

Gratuity, alms, free

Bahadur

as a title = champion, hero

Bandook

Gun, more properly - matchlock, musket, rifle etc

Banya or Buniah

Corn Chandler

Barkandaze

Matchlockman

Basant, basunta

Yellow flowering bush - the herald of spring

Begum

Queen

Beyla

Dry river bed

Bhang

The narcotic hemp

Bhagwan Jhanda

Holy standard of the Marathas

Bhat

Native dialect

Bhisti (Bishti)

Water carrier

Bibighar

Women’s quarters - often for Indian wives of British Officers

Bilaitee

Kabuli or Afghan

Bowrie

Well

Brahman

Brahmin

The highest caste.  Hindu priests belong to this caste.  The majority are land owning farmers.  Many served in the HEIC regiments.

Bungalow

Square single storey building.

Bunnia

Money lender

Burquha

Female garment which covers from head to toe

Chapattis, Chupattis

Flat discs of unleavened bread

Chaprassi

Messenger

Chapplis

Native sandals

Charpoy

Low, framed bed

Chick

Hanging screen

Chirag

Clay saucers of oil with a wick used as lamps

Chit

Note, slip of paper

Chittak

Measure - less than 2 oz

Chota-

Little-

Chowkiedar

Policeman

Coorta

Muslim women’s clothes

Cutcherry

Court of law for civil offences

Dacoit

Professional Bandit

Dai

Nurse, midwife

Dak

Postal Service

Darzee, darzi, derzi

Tailor

Dharma

Duty

Dhobie Wallah

Laundryman

Dholli

Traditional gift to the landlord in addition to taxes and rent

Dhoti

Loin cloth

Dhoolie

Litter for carrying wounded

Doad

Land between two rivers

Dogra

Mountaineer - usually a Rajput

Duffadar

Native Cavalry Sergeant

Duffadar Major

Native Cavalry Sergeant Major

Durbar

Royal Court

Dustoori

Expression meaning “Nothing can be done about it”

Fakir

Poor holy man

Feringhee

Unbeliever (Christian)

Gerbauchs

Swivel guns

Ghadi

Throne

Gharry, Ghari

Two wheeled passenger carriage

Ghat

Landing place on a river bank

Ghazi

Muslim holy warrior - a fanatic intending to die killing a non believer and so enter Paradise

Ghora Wallah

Groom, carriage driver

Gingal, jingal

Small bore cannon, often wall or tripod mounted

Golundaz

Gunner

Gonda

Hereditary cowherd - the original inhabitants of Hindustan

Goojur

Hereditary Brigand

Goomtasha

Envoy, Agent

Guru

Teacher, wise man

Hafiz

Muslim who knows the entire Koran by heart

Halwi

Sweetmeat seller

Havildar

Native Infantry Sergeant

Havildar major

Native Infantry Sergeant Major

Hookah

Hubble-bubble pipe

Hookah burdwar

The servant who recharges the hookah with tobacco and rosewater

Howdah

Elephant carriage

Hurkara

Runner, foot messenger

Imam

Muslim elder (priest)

Jang dida

War experienced, a veteran

Jangli

Forest

Jat

Hereditary warrior tribe of Rajputs

Jellabi

Sweets

Jemadar

Native Infantry Lieutenant

Jheel

Swamp

Kala Pani

The sea (literally “Black Water”)

Kansama

Butler

Kalakasi

Tent pitcher

Khitmagar

Bearer, male servant

Khotwal, kotwal

Native Official (Magistrate) of the Bazaar

Khud

Steep, precipice, abyss

Kit, Khit

Equipment

Kootub, kutub

Small village

Koss

Indian measure for 2 miles

Kot Duffadar

Native cavalry NCO

Ksatriya

The Lord or warrior caste.  The second caste.  Many served in the HEIC artillery and infantry regiments.

Kurta

Frock coat

Kutcheri

Court of law for civil offences

Lakh

100,000 (1 lakh of rupees was about £10,000 in 1857)

Lascar

camp follower, general labourer

Lat-

Great- , big-

Loot

Plunder

Lotah

drinking vessel

Maidan

Plains

Maharajah

King

Mahout

Hereditary elephant driver

Mall

Main street - the place for afternoon drives

Maulvi

Learned man, often a doctor.  (usually Muslim)

Maund

Measure about 80 lb

Mem-sahib

Lady - common usage British Officer’s wife

Mistry

Workman, builder, mason

Mleccha

The casteless “Untouchables” they did not receive any benefits or protection.  They were subsistence farmers, beggars, transient workers etc. 

It also includes Muslims, Christians and so on.

Mofussil

The countryside: The “back of beyond”

Mohur

Gold coin worth 16 rupees

Muezzin

Man who calls Muslims to prayer from the minaret of the mosque

Mufti

Civilian (native) clothes.

Mullah

Muslim religious leader

Muggar

River crocodile

Munshi

Tutor

Naik

Native Infantry Corporal

Nautch

Dancing performance

Nautch girl

Dancing girl

Nazar, Nurzur

Gift to superior, more in homage than a bribe

Nimuk Haram

rebel, mutineer, disloyal men - lit.  “breaker of salt”

Nirvana

Buddhist state of grace

Nujeeb

Undisciplined but well armed rebel soldier.

Oudh

The region noe called Uttar Pradesh

Padishah

Great King

Pagri

Turban also cloth attached to a helmet

Pan

Leaves (chewed) of the piper betel plant

Panchyats

A delegation from a village led by the headman

Pariah dog

semi wild - stray dog

Peepul

A bushy tree - known as he “traveller’s friend” because it drips moisture all year from its leaves.

Pice

Copper coin worth 1/4 Anna

Poshteen

Sheepskin coat

Punkah

Ceiling mounted blade fan

Punkah Wallah

One who works a Punkah usually by pulling a cord

Purbiah

The men of Oudh

Raj

Rule

Rajah

Ruler

Rajnara

Follower of a Rajah

Rakhri

The notion of being obliged to return an important service.  It was a thank offering honoured by the whole family.  It is given when the family has no gift of suitable worth for the service given.  Normally given at a specific festival.  It ties the entire family and its resources to the recipient forever and without question.  All that is needed is for a member of the family to see or be sent the Rakhri Band for unquestioning assistance to be given.

Rakhri Band

The bracelet which is given to denote the obligation.

Rani

Female ruler

Rattan

Cane often used to make screens

Rissaldar

Native Cavalry Officer

Rissaldar Major

Senior Native Cavalry Officer

Rupee

Silver coin valued about 2/- (10p) in 1857

Sadhu

Wandering holy man, the “sky born”, forehead marked with the sign of Shiva

Sahib

Officer, leader, sir (roughly translates as “knight”)

Sari

Native woman’s skirt

Seer

Measure of about 2 lb

Sepoy

Native Infantry Private Soldier

Serai

Fortified, walled village.

Shaitan

Satan

Shamshir

Light, curved sword favoured by cavalry, officers and nobles.

Sherbauchs

Swivel guns

Silladar

Method of raising irregular troops.  The soldiers are paid better but have to provide and maintain their own kit.

Sirdar, sirkar

Headman, Officer in Charge

Sipah Sirdar

Lord of Troops, General

Soojee

Porridge meal

Sowar

Native Cavalry Trooper

Subedar

Native Infantry Captain

Subedar Major

Senior Native Infantry Captain

Suddeer Bazaar

Headman of the Bazaar

Sudra

The fourth or Serf Caste.  These people worked the land for those of higher caste.

Suttee

Ceremonial widow burning

Syce

Groom

Takur

Baron

Talukhdar

Lord

Tank

Pond

Tat

Pony from the countryside

Terai

Woods at the foot of mountains

Thugi

Ritual murder - sacrifice to Kali

Tomasha

Row, Riot etc

Tope

Dome, usually one which is overgrown and surrounded by trees

Tulwar

Native heavy curved sword

Tiffin

light meal served about 2  pm

Vaisya

The third or Merchant caste. 

Vakeel

Village headman

Verandah

Roofed, open area surrounding a house.

Wilayatis

Afghan soldiers of fortune

Zambarek

Camel mounted swivel gun

Zemindar

Prince

Zenana

Concubine’s quarters, the harem

Zilla

Seal - the sign of office of a Collector or Magistrate