VOCABULARY
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.
- Dāk. 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.