GLOSSARY
Reading edition
[Containing only Burmese words used more than once, or not explained in text or notes.]
amat = Minister.
atu-ma-shi = incomparable. “There is none like her—none.”
bein-sa = opium-eater.
bo = chief, leader.
da = a knife of any sort.
Ein-she-min = heir-apparent.
gyi = great.
hlutdaw = Council of State.
kala = barbarian, a foreigner from the West.
kappiya-taga = a lay attendant of a monastery.
kin-bya = a somewhat familiar form of address.
ko-mi = a game of cards.
ku-tho-daw = royal merit.
kyaung = monastery.
kyaung-taga = founder of a monastery.
maung = much the same as “Mr.”
min = King, lord.
mingyi = great lord, high official; in this book, one of the four chief Ministers of State.
min-laung = an embryo min.
min-tha = Prince, son of a min.
Mi-paya = Queen.
my̆o = city, town, township, circle.
my̆o-ôk = officer in charge of a township, a member of the Subordinate Civil Service.
my̆o-ôk-gavaw = My̆o-ôk’s wife.
my̆o-sa = a title of a Shan chief (in his book).
my̆o-thu-gyi = head of a my̆o or circle.
my̆o-wun = town magistrate.
nan nandaw ⎫ ⎬ ⎭ = palace.
nat = a spiritual being.
neik-ban—Nirvána = the state of rest.
pa-dauk = a tree yielding excellent timber and bearing lovely flowers.
pa-ya = a pagoda, a sacred image, a title of honour = lord.
pè-nin = helmsman.
pôn-gyi = a monk; literally, “great glory.”
pôn-na = Hindus of Mandalay, descendants of captives from Assam or Manipur.
pwè = an assembly, most commonly an entertainment of a dramatic nature.
pya-that = a terraced spire.
sa-daw = a monk of high position.
Saw-bwa = a title of a Shan chief.
sa-ye-daw-gyi = clerks or secretaries of the hlutdaw.
shwe = gold, golden.
Su-paya = a Princess of royal birth on both sides.
taik = a territorial division, called in English a “circle.”
taik-thu-gyi = headman of a circle.
tamein = a woman’s skirt.
taung-ya = hill-cultivation.
tha-tha-na-baing = head of the monastic Order.
thu-gyi = headman; literally, “great man.”
twet = a term applied to a monk who renounces his Order.
win = a house and grounds.
wun = an official title of varying denotation.
yo-ma = a range of hills; literally, “backbone.”
za-yat = a rest-house.
ze-gyo = the great bazaar or market at Mandalay.