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.