Persian Words in India

Baksheesh
In the Indian subcontinent: a small sum of money given as alms, a tip, or a bribe.
– ORIGIN based on Pers. bakshish, from bakshidan ‘give’.
Biriani (also biriyani or biryani)
An Indian dish made with highly seasoned rice and meat, fish, or vegetables.
– ORIGIN from Pers. biryani, from biriyan ‘fried, grilled’.
Bund
In India and Pakistan: an embankment or causeway.
– ORIGIN from Pers. band.
Charkha
In the Indian subcontinent: a domestic spinning wheel used chiefly for cotton.
– ORIGIN from Pers. charkha ‘spinning wheel’.
Charpoy
In the Indian subcontinent: a light bedstead.
– ORIGIN from Pers. charpai ‘four-legged’.
Chick
In the Indian subcontinent: a bamboo screen for a doorway.
– ORIGIN from Pers. cigh.
Dastur
In the Indian subcontinent: a chief priest.
– ORIGIN from Old Pers. dastobar ‘prime minister’.
Diwan
A chief treasury official, finance minister, or Prime Minister in some Indian states.
– ORIGIN from Pers. diwan ‘fiscal register’.
Durbar
The court of an Indian ruler.
– ORIGIN from Pers. darbar ‘court’.
Durzi
In the Indian subcontinent: a tailor.
– ORIGIN from Pers. darzi, from darz ‘sewing’.
Feringhee
In India, a foreigner, especially a white person.
– ORIGIN from Pers. firangi, from the base of Frank.
Gymkhana
In the Indian subcontinent: a public place with facilities for athletics.
– ORIGIN C19: from Hindi ged ‘ball’ + Pers. kanah ‘house’
Havildar
In the Indian subcontinent: a soldier or police officer corresponding to a sergeant.
– ORIGIN from Pers. hawaladar ‘trust-holder’.
Hindu
· a follower of Hinduism.
– ORIGIN from Pers. hindu, from Hind ‘India’.
Kincob
A rich Indian fabric brocaded with gold or silver.
– ORIGIN from Pers. kamkab, alt. of kimk ‘damask silk’.
Kofta
In Middle Eastern and Indian cookery: a savoury ball of minced meat, paneer, or vegetables.
– ORIGIN from Pers. koftah ‘pounded meat’.
Kulcha
A small, round Indian flatbread, typically stuffed with meat or vegetables.
– ORIGIN from Pers. kulcha.
Kurta
A loose collarless shirt worn by people from the Indian subcontinent.
– ORIGIN from Pers. kurtah.
Lascar
A sailor from India or SE Asia.
– ORIGIN C17: from Pers. lashkari ‘soldier’.
Maidan
In the Indian subcontinent: an open space in or near a town.
– ORIGIN from Pers. maidan.
Mogul (also Moghul or Mughal)
A member of the Muslim dynasty of Mongol origin which ruled much of India in the 16th–19th centuries.
– ORIGIN from Pers. mughul ‘Mongol’.
Nan
In Indian cookery: a type of leavened bread, typically of a flattened teardrop shape.
– ORIGIN from Pers. nan.
Numdah
In the Indian subcontinent: an embroidered rug made of felt or coarse woollen cloth.
– ORIGIN from Pers. namad ‘carpet’.
Paneer
A type of milk curd cheese used in Indian, Iranian, and Afghan cooking.
– ORIGIN from Pers. panir ‘cheese’.
Salwar
A pair of light, loose, pleated trousers tapering to a tight fit around the ankles, worn by women from the Indian subcontinent, typically with a kameez.
– ORIGIN from Pers. Shalwar.
Sardar
In the Indian subcontinent: a leader, a Sikh.
– ORIGIN from Pers. sar-dar.
Sarkar
In the Indian subcontinent: a man in a position of authority, especially a landowner.
– ORIGIN from Pers. sarkar, from sar ‘chief’ + kar ‘agent, doer’.
Sarod
A lute used in classical North Indian music.
– ORIGIN Pers. surod ‘song, melody’.
Sepoy
An Indian soldier serving under British or other European orders.
– ORIGIN from Pers. sipahi ‘soldier’.
Serang
In the Indian subcontinent: an Asian head of a Lascar crew.
– ORIGIN from Pers. sar-hang ‘commander’.
Shikar
In the Indian subcontinent: hunting.
– ORIGIN from Pers. Shikar.
Sitar
A large, long-necked Indian lute with movable frets, played with a wire pick.
– ORIGIN from Pers. sitar, from sih ‘three’ + tar ‘string’.
Tabla
A pair of small hand drums fixed together, used in Indian music.
– ORIGIN from Pers. tablah.
Taj
A tall conical cap worn by a dervish, a crown worn by an Indian prince.
– ORIGIN from Pers. taj ‘crown’.
Tamboura (also tambura)
A large four-stringed lute used in Indian music as a drone accompaniment, a long-necked lute or mandolin of Balkan countries.
– ORIGIN C16: from Pers. dunbara, lit. ‘lamb’s tail’.
Tandoor
A clay oven of a type used originally in northern India and Pakistan.
– ORIGIN from from Pers. tanur.
Zamindar (also zemindar)
In the Indian subcontinent: a landowner who leased land to tenant farmers.
– ORIGIN from Pers. zamindar, from zamin ‘land’ + -dar ‘holder’.
Zenana
In India and Iran: the part of a house for the seclusion of women.
– ORIGIN from Pers. zananah, from zan ‘woman’.
Zedoary
An Indian plant related to turmeric, with an aromatic rhizome.
– ORIGIN ME: from Pers. zadwar.
Zilla
An administrative district in India, containing several parganas.
– ORIGIN from Pers. Nila ‘division’.