GLOSSARY

Abkari

- vendor or seller of liquor or drugs

Anushilan   

- culture

Ayah

- nanny

Babu

- father

Bahadur

- brave

Bania

- caste of traders or merchants

Bazaar

- market

Bheel

- fen-like countryside

Bheesti

- water carrier

Bobbery

- a mixed pack of dogs not necessarily of hunting breed

Bungalow

- detached house

Burra

- big

Chapattie

- unleven bread

Chaprasi

- orderly, junior office worker who carries messages

Chaukidar

- watchman

Chauntra

- circular stone platform (usually under a tree) to rest

Chummery

- accommodation shared by bachelor officers

Dacoit

- a person who commits robbery with violence

Daffadar

- watchmen supervisor

Dagi

- ‘marked’ person of bad character or criminal record

Dak

- Post (mail)

Dasturi

- customary

Dekchi

- cooking pot (corrupted to ‘dixie’ in English)

Durree

- carpet or rug

Dustur

- custom

Elaqa

- area, jurisdiction

Garhwalis

- soldiers from Garhwal

Ghat

- boat quay, boat landing steps or anchorage

Gora

- white-skinned person

Goral or Gurul  

- goat-antelope

Gurkha

- martial race of Nepal

Hartal

- strike, voluntary refusal to work

Havildar

- sergeant (rank)

Hilsa

- fresh water fish

Izardar

- trader

Janmastami

- Hindu festival on the 8th day after birth of Krishna

Jawan

- soldier

Jhum

- jungle cleared for cultivation

Jugantar

- new era

Kacherries

- courts (of law)

Kalam

- pen (writing)

Khal

- tributary of river

Khalasai

- seaman, lascar

Khansama

- butler

Khidmatgar

- under butler

Khud

- hillside

Kuttcha

- crudely made item or thing

Lal

- red (colour)

Lathi

- night-stick or truncheon

Machan

- tree-platform or hide for shooting

Maidan

- level open park

Mali

- gardener

Massalchi

- dishwasher

Mautam

- bamboo plant seeding period

Mithun

- type of Bull ‘Bos Frontalis’

Moffussil

- district

Mohurrir

- clerical staff

Ooriya

- servant

Paddi

- rice field

Pagri

- turban

Pahlwan

- wrestler

Palki

- sedan chair

Paltan

- regiment (military)

Panch

- five (number)

Proby ASPs

- Probationary Assistant Superintendents of Police

Punkha

- fan (ceiling fan for cool air)

Rajputs

- martial race from northern India

Ramzan / Ramadan

- Muslim holy month of fasting

Sadar

- Chief, head, leader

Sambhur

- deer

Salutri

- veterinarian

Samiti

- society, association

Searang

- water boat skipper

Serow

- goat antelope

Shamiana

- marquee, tent

Sirkar

- government

Subedar

- Captain (local)

Syce

- ostler or groom (horse)

Taktaposh

- low platform for sitting

Tazia

- procession float

Thana

- Police Station

Ticca gari

- horse-drawn cart for hire

Tila

- mound or small hillock

Zamindar

- landlord responsible for collecting tax on his land