Glossary

The Poison Tree — Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

GLOSSARY OF HINDU WORDS.

Attar. Commonly called in England Otto of Roses.

Bari. The Hindu home.

Bhagirati. A river, branch of the Ganges.

Boiragi. A religious devotee.

Boisnavi. A female mendicant; a votary of Vishnu.

Boroari. A Hindu festival.

Boita khana. The sitting-room of the male members of the household, and their guests.

Bonti. A fish knife.

Bou. The wife.

Brahmachari. A student of the Vedas.

Brahman. An officiating Hindu priest

Brahmo Somaj. The church of the Theistic sect or Brahmos.

Dada Babu. Elder brother.

Dahuk. A bird of the Crane species.

Didi. Elder sister.

Duftur Khana. Accountant's office.

Durga. A Hindu goddess.

Darwan. A doorkeeper.

Ghāt. Landing steps to a river or tank.

Ghi. Clarified butter.

Gomashta. Factor or agent; a rent-collector.

Grihini. The house-mistress.

Ganga. The river Ganges.

Joisto. The Hindu month corresponding to May—June.

Kabiraj. A Hindu physician.

Kacheri. Courthouse, or Revenue-office.

Kayasta. The writer caste.

Khansamah. A Mahommedan butler.

Korta. The master of the house.

Ma Thakurani. A title of respect to the mistress.

Mahal. A division of a house.

Malini. A flower girl.

Manji. A boatman.

Naib. A deputy, representing the Zemindar.

Pandit. A learned Brahman.

Papiya. A bird.

Puja. Hindu worship.

Puja Mahal. The division of the house devoted to worship.

Pardah. A screen or curtain.

Ryot. A tiller of the soil.

Sari. A woman's garment.

Shastras. Hindu sacred books.

Shradda. An obsequial ceremony, in which food and water are offered to deceased ancestors.

Siva. A Hindu God.

Sraban. The Hindu months corresponding to July—August.

Talao. A tank or enclosed pond.

Thakur. The Deity; sometimes applied as a title of honour to the master of the house.

Thakur Bari. The chamber occupied by the family deity.

Tulsi. A plant held sacred by the Hindus.

Zemindar. A landholder.

Zillah. A district or local division.

UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON.