VOCABULARY

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OF

PERSIAN, HINDOSTANI, AND OTHER ORIENTAL WORDS

EMPLOYED IN THIS VOLUME.

  • Akukzye. The name of one of the great Affghan tribes.
  • Aloo-baloo. The wild sour cherry.
  • Aman. The cry for mercy—quarter.
  • Ameer. Commander or chief.
  • Ana. A small coin; sixteen of which make a rupee. Its value is about three halfpence.
  • Ashurpee. A mohur—a gold coin. Its value is about thirty shillings English.
  • Ayah. A female attendant—a nurse.
  • Bahadur. A bravo—a boaster or braggadocio; also a brave man—a hero.
  • Bahadur (verb). To boast or brag.
  • Bala Hissar. Upper citadel—royal palace.
  • Barats. Legal documents—assignments—promissory notes.
  • Barukzye. The name of one of the five great Dooranee tribes.
  • Bash or bosh. Nothing—humbug.
  • Bashee. A head-man.
  • BÉdanas. A sort of mulberry.
  • Behmaru. The name of a village near Cabul. The word signifies "the husbandless."
  • Bhanghys. Baggage.—Boxes. They are boxes hung at each end of a pole and carried on a man's shoulder.
  • Bheestees. Water-carriers.
  • Bhoosa or Boussa. Chopped straw—chaff. Hindostani.
  • Bhoodkhees. Presents.
  • Bildars. Excavators—sappers.
  • Bourj or Burj. A fortified hill or tower.
  • Bukshees. Gifts—presents—douceurs.
  • Bukhraeed. A Mahommedan feast. The festival of the goat; held to commemorate the history of Abraham and Ishmael (Isaac).
  • Bunneah. A trader—a corn-merchant or dealer in grain, flour, &c .
  • Cafila. A caravan—a convoy.
  • Cass. A kind of furze.
  • Caupoochees. Porters. Chaoney. An encampment—cantonments.
  • Charpoys. A bed on four poles, with ropes crossed over them.
  • Chattak. A measure for grain, &c . The 16th part of a seer, or about 2 ounces English.
  • Chebootras. Small thick mats, on which slaves usually sit or squat.
  • Chillum. The part of the hookah, or pipe, containing the lighted tobacco—hence used for the pipe itself.
  • Chillumchee. A washand-basin.
  • Chiragh. A lamp.
  • Chogah. A sort of cloak.
  • Chokey. A police station.
  • Chouk. A bazaar—a street. Also the portion of the taxes excused to the native Chiefs for keeping the passes open, and for keeping the tribes in check.
  • Chowdry. The chief man or head of a bazaar.
  • Chuddah. A sheet or veil.
  • Chupao. A night attack—a surprise—a foray.
  • Chupao (verb). To attack by night—to surprise by stealth.
  • Chupatties. Unleavened cakes, made of ottah.
  • Chuprassy. A messenger—a servant bearing a badge or brass plate.
  • Chuttah or chatta. An umbrella or parasol.
  • Compound. An enclosed space—the ground round a house.
  • Cossid. A courier—an express—a foot messenger.
  • Crore. Ten lakhs of rupees, or one million pounds sterling.
  • Dak. Letter post.
  • Dallies. Baskets for fruits, &c .—panniers.
  • Dewan. A steward.
  • Dhal. A kind of split pea—pulse.
  • Dhooley. A palanquin for the sick.
  • Dhye. Sour curds.
  • Dooranee. The general name of the five great tribes; the Populzye—Barukzye—Nurzye—Barmizye and Abkhuzye.
  • Durbar. Levee.
  • Duffodar. A non-commissioned officer of cavalry.
  • Elchee. An ambassador—an agent.
  • Eusofzyes. An Affghan tribe north of Peshawer.
  • Fakirs. Devotees—mendicants.
  • Fatcha. The prayer for the reigning monarch—a part of the Mahommedan service; the reading of which is equivalent to doing homage.
  • Feringhees. Europeans—Franks—foreigners.
  • Fernez. Sweet curds.
  • Fouj. An army.
  • Ghee. Clarified butter.
  • Ghuzee or Ghazeea. A champion of religion—a fanatic.
  • Gilzye. The name of a great Affghan tribe.
  • Gobrowed. Dumbfounded—at a non-plus.
  • Godowns. Storehouses—granaries.
  • Golees. Balls—bullets.
  • Golundaz. Artillerymen—literally, throwers of balls.
  • Goor. Coarse brown sugar or molasses.
  • Goorkha. A native of Nepaul; literally "Cowherd."
  • Gulas. Cherries.
  • Hamaum. A hot bath—baths; commonly written Hummums.
  • Haut. A measure equal to half a yard—a cubit.
  • Havildar. A serjeant in the native troops.
  • Hazir-Bashes. The king's body guard. The words imply "Ever ready."
  • Hookm. An order—permission—the word of command.
  • Hoosseinee-Angoor. A peculiarly fine sort of grape, of immense size, called "the bull's eye."
  • Huft Kohtul. The seven passes.
  • Hurkaru. A messenger.
  • Janbaz. The Affghan cavalry.
  • Jee. Life—spirit—"with right goodwill."
  • Jeerga. An assembly or council—a diet.
  • Jemadar. A native officer holding the rank of lieutenant.
  • Jhala. A raft.
  • Jingals. Wall pieces, carrying a ball of about a quarter of a pound.
  • Jorabs. Boots.
  • Jung. The fight or battle.
  • Juwans. Young men.
  • Juzail. The long rifle of the Affghans.
  • Juzailchees. Riflemen.
  • Kaffirs. Infidels.
  • Kaloss. Safe—free. Finished.
  • Kazanchez. A treasurer—a treasury.
  • Keshmish. Raisins—grapes.
  • Khan. A nobleman. In Cabul the title is assumed by every one.
  • Khelluts. Dresses of honour.
  • Khootba. The prayer for the king.
  • Kirkee. A wicket or window.
  • Kos. A measure of distance, equal to about two English miles.
  • Kote. A fort.
  • Kotilla Taj-i. The name of a pass—literally, the crown of the mountains.
  • Kotilla Murdee. The dead men's pass.
  • Kujavas. Camel-panniers.
  • Kulassy. A tent pitcher—a baggage servant.
  • Kulma. The Mahommedan creed.
  • Kuneh. A private dwelling.
  • Kurtoot. The name of a village—literally, the donkey's mulberry.
  • Kurwar, or Khurwah. A measure; equal to 700 lbs. English.
  • Kuzzilbashes. Persians; or persons of Persian descent, residing in Cabul.
  • Kyde. Prison. The root of the vulgar English "quod"—to put in quod.
  • Kysee. The white apricot.
  • Lakh. One hundred thousand.
  • Lakh of Rupees. Ten thousand pounds sterling.
  • Larye. A battle—an engagement.
  • Lascar. An attendant on guns, magazines, &c .
  • Loonghee. The cloth of a turban.
  • Loot. Plunder.
  • Loot (verb). To sack—to plunder.
  • Mast. Curds.
  • Maund. A measure of grain; about 80 lbs. English.
  • Maush. A sort of grain.
  • Meerza. A secretary—a Mahommedan writer.
  • Meer Wyse. A teacher—the high priest.
  • Mehmandar. A cicerone—a man of all work—a factotum.
  • Mehter. A class of camp-followers—a sweeper.
  • Mohur. A coin, generally gold; its value is about thirty shillings English.
  • Moollah. A priest.
  • Moong. Pulse.
  • Moonshee. A secretary or interpreter.
  • Muezzin. The call of the Faithful to prayers.
  • Mushk. A leathern bag for holding water—a goat's skin.
  • Musjid. A temple or place of worship.
  • Nagura. A set of drums which the natives beat to announce the presence of the king or any great chief.
  • Naib. A deputy or lieutenant.
  • Naich. A corporal in the native troops.
  • Nal. A horse-shoe.
  • Nalbunds. Farriers.
  • Nalkee. A palanquin.
  • Nans. Cakes of bread. (? Latin, Annona.)
  • Nawaub. A prince. Nabob.
  • Nazir. A master of the household.
  • Neemchees. A kind of spencer made of sheep-skins.
  • Neencha. A coat.
  • No-roz. The Vernal Equinox. The Mohammedan New Year's Day.
  • Nullah. The bed of a river; also used for a river.
  • Numdas. Coarse felt carpets.
  • Ooloos. The tribes or clans. To summon the Ooloos, answers to our "calling out the militia."
  • Oorsees. Open-work lattices.
  • Ottah or Attah. Ground wheat—flour, or rather what is called pollard.
  • Palkee. A palanquin.
  • Pall. A kind of tent.
  • Pesh Khedmuts. Attendants.
  • Pillau. A dish of meat and rice.
  • Posha Khana. An armoury.
  • Poshteen. A sheep-skin; also a fur-pelisse.
  • Pushtoo. The language of the natives of Affghanistan.
  • Pyjania. Loose trowsers.
  • Raj. A government—a province.
  • Rajah. A prince.
  • Ressalah. A troop of horse.
  • Rezai or Resaiz. A counterpane—a quilt.
  • Rui-band. A veil.
  • Rupee. A silver coin; its value is about two shillings English.
  • Saces. A groom.
  • Sahib. Sir—master.
  • Salaam. Salutation. To make salaam—to pay one's respects.
  • Seer. A measure; about equal to two lbs. English.
  • Shah Bagh. The king's garden.
  • Shah Guzees or Shahghasses. The household troops—the "yeomen of the guard." Officers of the court.
  • Shah-zada. A king's son—a prince.
  • Shalu. Red cotton cloth from Turkey.
  • Shikar. Field sports.
  • Shikargurs. Hunting grounds—preserves.
  • Shoke. A hobby—a mania.
  • Shroffs. Native bankers—money changers.
  • Shubkoon. A surprise at night.
  • Shytan. The devil.
  • Siah Sung. The black rock.
  • Siahs. A large sect of the Mahommedans; opposed to the Soonees.
  • Sipahees. The native Hindostanee troops. Sepoys.
  • Sir-i-chusm. The name of a village—the words signify "the head of the spring."
  • Sirdar. A general. The title assumed by Mahomed Akbar Khan.
  • Sirdar-i-Sirdan. The chief of the generals. Generalissimo.
  • Soonees. A large sect of the Mahommedans.
  • Subadar. A native officer, holding the rank of captain.
  • Sugs. Dogs. A term of contempt.
  • Sungah. Breast work. Fortifications.
  • Surda. A species of melon. The cold melon.
  • Surwans or Surwons. Camel drivers—grooms.
  • Setringees. A kind of small carpet.
  • Suwars. Horsemen—troopers.
  • Syud. The title of a chief of the Ooloos.
  • Syud. A holy man—a saint.
  • Syuds. A sect of the Mahommedans; claiming to be the descendants of the prophet; and who therefore wear the green turban.
  • Tattoes. Ponies.
  • Topes. Tombs—mounds—barrows. There are several in Affghanistan, built in the time of Alexander.
  • Topshee Bashee. The commander of the artillery. "The master-general of the ordnance."
  • Turnasook. The red plum.
  • Tykhana. A cellar.
  • Usufzyes. An Affghan tribe north of Peshawer.
  • Vakeel. A deputy—a commissioner—one who acts or negotiates for another.
  • Wuzeer. Vizier.
  • Wuzeerat. The office of vizier.
  • Xummuls. Coarse blankets.
  • Yaboos. Affghan ponies.
  • Yaghi. Rebellious—in a state of rebellion—or of independence.
  • Zenana. A harem.
  • Zerdaloos. Apricots.
  • Zilzilla. An earthquake.
  • Zubberdust. Overbearing—"with the strong arm."
  • Zuna. A dwelling.

J & C. Walker, lith. 9. Castle Street.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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