1803.—"At Judda the weights are:
| 15 Vakeeas | = 1 Rattle. |
| 2 Rattles | = 1 maund." |
| Milburn, i. 88. | |
ROUND, s. This is used as a Hind. word, raund, or corruptly raun gasht, a transfer of the English, in the sense of patrolling, or 'going the rounds.' [And we find in the Madras Records the grade of 'Rounder,' or 'Gentlemen of the Round,' officers whose duty it was to visit the sentries.
[1683.—"... itt is order'd that 18 Souldiers, 1 Corporall & 1 Rounder goe upon the Sloop Conimer for Hugly...."—Pringle, Diary Ft. St. Geo. 1st ser. ii. 33.]
ROUNDEL, s. An obsolete word for an umbrella, formerly in use in Anglo-India. [In 1676 the use of the Roundell was prohibited, except in the case of "the Councell and Chaplaine" (Hedges, Diary, Hak. Soc. ii. ccxxxii.)] In old English the name roundel is applied to a variety of circular objects, as a mat under a dish, a target, &c. And probably this is the origin of the present application, in spite of the circumstance that the word is sometimes found in the form arundel. In this form the word also seems to have been employed for the conical hand-guard on a lance, as we learn from Bluteau's great Port. Dictionary: "Arundela, or Arandella, is a guard for the right hand, in the form of a funnel. It is fixed to the thick part of the lance or mace borne by men at arms. The Licentiate Covarrubias, who piques himself on finding etymologies for every kind of word, derives Arandella from Arundel, a city (so he says) of the Kingdom of England." Cobarruvias (1611) gives the above explanation; adding that it also was applied to a kind of smooth collar worn by women, from its resemblance to the other thing. Unless historical proof of this last etymology can be traced, we should suppose that Arundel is, even in this sense, probably a corruption of roundel. [The N.E.D. gives arrondell, arundell as forms of hirondelle, 'a swallow.']
1673.—"Lusty Fellows running by their Sides with Arundels (which are broad Umbrelloes held over their Heads)."—Fryer, 30.
1676.—"Proposals to the Agent, &c., about the young men in Metchlipatam.
"Generall. I.—Whereas each hath his peon and some more with their Rondells, that none be permitted but as at the Fort."—Ft. St. Geo. Consn., Feb. 16. In Notes and Exts. No. I. p. 43.
1677-78.—"... That except by the Members of this Councell, those that have formerly been in that quality, Cheefes of Factorys, Commanders of Shipps out of England, and the Chaplains, Rundells shall not be worne by any Men in this Towne, and by no Woman below the Degree of Factors' Wives and Ensigns' Wives, except by such as the Governour shall permit."—Madras Standing Orders, in Wheeler, iii. 438.
1680.—"To Verona (the Company's Chief Merchant)'s adopted son was given the name of Muddoo Verona, and a Rundell to be carried over him, in respect to the memory of Verona, eleven cannon being fired, that the Towne and Country might take notice of the honour done them."—Ft. St. Geo. Consn. In Notes and Exts. No. II. p. 15.