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Tara: A Mahratta Tale

Page 96

by Meadows Taylor


  GLOSSARY.

  A.

  _Alla_, God.

  _Alla-hu-Akbur_, God is victorious!

  _Alkab_, honorary titles prefixed to letters according to rank.

  _Am[=a]n_, mercy.

  _Ameen_, amen.

  _Ashruffees_, gold coins--mohurs.

  _Astagh-fur-oolla_, exclamation of abhorrence--God forbid!

  B.

  _Babool_, mimosa.

  _Beebee_, lady.

  _Bismilla_, in God's name!

  _Bhugwan_, an appellation of the Divinity.

  _Bhugwat Geeta_, a devotional episode of the Mahabharut.

  _Bhuttote_, Thug designation for strangler.

  _Bukreed_, Mussulman festival in commemoration of the offering up ofIsaac.

  _Bunij_, Thug designation for a victim.

  _Burr_, the banian tree.

  _Burkhast_, dismissal of an assembly.

  _Bye_, Mahratta term for lady.

  _Byragee_, one of the Hindu sects of devotees.

  C.

  _Chenna_, a kind of pulse--"gram."

  _Cheyla_, a disciple.

  _Chobdar_, mace-bearer.

  _Coss_, two miles.

  _Coss bur_, about two miles.

  D.

  _Daee_, a nurse.

  _Dallal_, a broker.

  _Darogha_, a superintendent.

  _Devi_, the goddess Bhowani.

  _Dhotee_, a man's waist-cloth.

  _Dooputta_, a scarf.

  _Duffadar_, subordinate officer (military).

  _Durbar_, a court assembly.

  _Durora_, gang robbery with violence.

  F.

  _Fateha_, thank-offering.

  G.

  _Ganja_, hemp leaves cured for smoking.

  _Ghee_, boiled butter.

  _Gooroo_, spiritual teacher.

  _Gopis_, the nymphs of Muttra.

  _Goruk Imlee_, Adansonia Gigantea.

  _Gosai_ or _Gosavee_, a sect of Hindu devotees, who are sometimesbankers.

  _Gosha! Murdhana! Private!_ cried out by their attendants whenMussulman ladies leave their houses.

  _Gowra_ (Canarese), head authority of a village.

  H.

  _Hai, Hai!_ alas, alas!

  _Hookum_, order, direction.

  _Hoondee_, bill of exchange.

  _Humeana_, waist-belt to carry money.

  _Hur, Hur, Mahadeo!_ the Mahratta war-cry--invocation to Mahadeo.

  _Hurkara_, a messenger.

  _Huzrut_, prince--my lord.

  I.

  _Inshalla_, please God!

  J.

  _Jehad_, religious war--crusade.

  _Jemadar_, military officer (captain).

  _Jo Hookum_, respectful affirmative--"as ordered."

  _Josee_, astrologer.

  _Jowan_, a young man, applied generally to soldiers.

  _Jungum_, priest of the Lingayet sect.

  _Junum-Putr_, literally, birth letter--"horoscope at birth."

  _Junwah_, the sacred thread of a Brahmun.

  K.

  _Kabob_, piece of meat fried or roasted.

  _Kafir_, infidel.

  _K[=a]mdeoo_, the Indian Cupid.

  _Kasee_, Benares.

  _Kazee_, Mahomedan law officer.

  _Khayet_, one of the Hindu castes, usually scribes.

  _Khilwut_, private apartments.

  _Khoda Hafiz_, God protect you!

  _Khodawund_, my lord.

  _Khundoba_, an incarnation of Siva.

  _Kicheri_, rice and pulse boiled together.

  _Kotwal_, magistrate of a town or bazar.

  _Kowl_, deed of protection and assurance.

  _Kucheri_, court-house.

  _Kullal_, publican, spirit seller.

  _Kullundur_, a sect of fakeers--"calendars."

  _Kurra_, a ring for the wrist.

  _Kurreem_, kind, merciful.

  L.

  _Lakh_, one hundred thousand.

  _Lota_, a drinking vessel.

  _Luddoo_, a sweetmeat made of sugar, milk, and flour rolled into balls.

  _Lownee_, a Mahratta ballad.

  M.

  _Mama_, a confidential female attendant.

  _Maha_, great.

  _Mang_, a low caste of Hindus in the Dekhan.

  _Mata_, mother.

  _Meah_, respectful title of the eldest son of a Mussulman family.

  _Mirdha_, court usher or attendant.

  _Mobaruk-bad_, congratulation.

  _Moolla_, Mussulman priest.

  _Motee_, pearl.

  _Mudd_, the line drawn above an address to a superior.

  _Muezzin_, the caller to prayer.

  _Mudud Khana_, a shop where intoxicating drugs are prepared and used.

  _Mutsuddee_, a clerk or scribe.

  _Mutt_, a monastery.

  N.

  _Naib_, agent, deputy.

  _Naeik_, a title used by chiefs of the lower tribes.

  _Nagara_, large kettle-drum.

  _Narayun_, a Hindu epithet for the divinity.

  _Nobut_, honorary band of music.

  _Nobut Khana_, the place where the Nobut plays.

  _Now Ratree_, the nine nights before the Dussera festival.

  _Nowroz_, Mussulman New Year's Day.

  _Nullah_, a watercourse--rivulet.

  _Nummo Narayun!_ salutation to a Gosai.

  _Numascar!_ a respectful Hindu salutation to a Brahmun.

  _Nurruk_, Hades.

  _Nuzzur_, offering to a superior.

  P.

  _Pacheese_, twenty-five, a game like backgammon.

  _Padshah_, king--emperor.

  _Paigah_, household troops.

  _Palkee_, an open litter.

  _Pan_, betel-leaf.

  _Patel_, chief authority of a village.

  _Peepul_, Ficus Religiosa.

  _Phoolka_, a light kind of bread--a "scone."

  _Pooree_, a kind of light pancake.

  _Pundit_, a learned Brahmun.

  _Purmeshwar_, a Hindu epithet for the divinity.

  _Putwaree_, a village registrar and accountant.

  R.

  _Ram_, an ancient king of Oudh, esteemed an incarnation of Vishnu.

  _Ramchunder_, an epithet of divinity.

  _Rameshwar_, a celebrated Hindu shrine near Cape Comorin.

  _Ramoosee_, one of the lower tribes in the Dekhan.

  S.

  _Sahib_, sir.

  _Saree_, a woman's garment in one piece.

  _Seeta_, the wife of "Rain."

  _Serai_, a traveller's resting-house.

  _Shabash_, well done!

  _Shastree_, a Brahmun learned in the Shastras.

  _Sheea_, a heterodox Mussulman--follower of Ali.

  _Sheernee_, rice and milk for thank-offerings.

  _Shookr_, thanks.

  _Shookr Ulla_, thanks to God!

  _Shukti_, secret worship of Hindu demons, the rites of which arehorrible.

  _Shytan_, the devil.

  _Sirkar_, the Government: authority.

  _Sonar_, a goldsmith.

  _Soobhan-Ulla_, praise to God!

  _Soonnee_, an orthodox Mussulman.

  _Sowaree_, retinue.

  _Sree Mata_, Holy Mother.

  _Sree Swami_, Holy Lord.

  _Sudra_, the lowest of the four divisions of Hindus.

  _Sutee_, chaste, faithful.

  _Syn_, respectful epithet of a fakeer.

  T.

  _Toba_, for shame!

  _Tusleemat_, the three obeisances to persons of high rank.

  U.

  _Ul-humd-ul-illa_, praise be to God!

  V.

  _Vina_, a large lute or guitar with frets.

  Y.

  _Ya Alla kureem_, O merciful God.

  _Ya Khubeer-o_, O giver of information!--one of the ninety-nineattributes of God.

  Z.

  _Zemindar_, a land-holder.

  _Printed by William Moore & Co._

 

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