Glossary of Anglo-Indian Words, sub voce
) is the name used by the Portuguese, and after them by the French writers, and by English travellers of the seventeenth century (Hakluyt, ed. 1807, vol. ii. p. 93; and Purchas, ed. 1645, vol. ii. p. 1747), to designate the Buddhist monks of Ceylon and the Indo-Chinese countries. Pallegoix (
Description du Royaume Thai ou Siam
, vol. ii. p. 23) says,
"Les Européens les ont appelés talapoins, probablement du nom de l'éventail qu'ils tiennent à la main, lequel s'appelle talapat, qui signifie feuille de palmier."
Possibly Byron knew the word through Voltaire (
Dial.
xxii.,
André des Couches à Siam
);