Time to celebrate these delightful Anglo-Indian terms
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The English language is fantastically adept at absorbing words from other languages. These English words of Indian origin are relics from Britain’s colonial past and have helped to make British English the colourful, creative and exciting language it is today.
1. To go doolally
Meaning: To go mad/insane.
Although we now say “to go doolally”, the original phrase was “to go tap doolally”. “Doolally” is a corruption of the name “Deolali”, a military transit camp in India, about 160km northeast of Mumbai. “Tap” means “Indian malarial fever” and has its origins in Urdu (“tab” = fever, heat, warmth) and ultimately Sankskrit (“tapa” = heat).
British soldiers would frequently be stationed in the Deolali camp to await transport back to Britain. With little there to keep them entertained and with many soldiers suffering from various tropical illnesses or PTSD after difficult missions, it is easy to see how the anglicised version of the camp’s name became a by-word for insanity and madness.
2. Bungalow
Meaning: A one-storey cottage or house which may be surrounded by wide verandas.
I bet you didn’t see that one coming, did you?
“Bungalow” derives from the Hindi word “bangla”, which means of, or belonging to, Bengal. It was used to describe the type of dwellings built for early European settlers in Bengal.
According to Wikipedia, the first dwelling in this style in the UK was built in 1869. The style was most popular in the early years of the 20th century, being adopted enthusiastically by the arts and crafts movement.
Alas, with the British weather being what it is, bungalows in Blighty tend not to feature verandas like those in Australia and the States – for how often is it nice enough outside to sit on them?
3. Dungarees
Meaning: Bib overalls/bib and braces overalls.
The word “dungaree” comes from the Marathi word “dongri”, a coarse and durable calico fabric which was frequently used to make hardwearing working clothes. The ultimate origin may be the port down of Dongri, just north of Mumbai, where the fabric was manufactured.
In modern American English, the word “dungaree” has remained wedded to the fabric while the garments made from it are called “overalls”. The British, on the other hand, turned the word “dungaree” into a plural and began using it to describe the work garments. We know that this shift in meaning had happened by the 1800s, as Rudyard Kipling, possibly Anglo-India’s most famous son, used “dungaree” in both senses in his writing.
Over the years, dungarees expanded their appeal and are now also happily worn as comfortable leisurewear. Several women I know spent months of their pregnancies living in dungarees, as they could be easily adjusted and expanded to fit a growing belly.
4. Gymkhana
Meaning: An equestrian competition, mainly for children, involving speed pattern racing and games for riders on horses/ponies.
Although the etymological roots of gymkhana are a little blurry, it is likely to come from the word “gendkhana”, which had its roots in the Urdu word “gend” (=ball) and the Persian “khana” (=house). Quite unsurprisingly, the “gendkhana” was a racket court.
The term “gymkhana” as we now know it is an Anglo-Indian word which originated in the British Raj in the 19th century. No-one quite knows how the “gend” turned into “gym”.
The connection to sport remained: modern gymkhanas in India and other Asian countries like Burma or Malaysia are mostly sporting or social clubs which may have a Gentleman’s Club attached to them. In Britain, they are day competitions (mainly for children) to test their equestrian skills and agility.
Fun fact! The competition that Brits call a “gymkhana” are sometimes called “O-Mok-See” competitions in the USA. This is thought to come from the Blackfoot Indian phrase “o-mak-see pak-san”, meaning “riding big dance”.
5. Numnah
Meaning: A piece of cloth, felt or sheepskin placed under the saddle of a horse to stop the leather rubbing the horse’s back (also called a saddle pad or saddle cloth).
British equestrianism has picked up a number of words from Indian languages – possibly because the military in the British Raj relied heavily on the cavalry and they brought the terminology home with them (see also: jodhpurs).
“Numnah” comes from the Urdu word “namda”, meaning felt. “Namda”, in turn, derived from the Sanskrit words “namata” (something woollen) and “navata” (woollen cloth).
6. Pyjamas
Meaning: Loose-fitting trousers and jacket for sleeping/lounging in.
Pyjamas, PJs, jim-jams, jammies – who doesn’t love to put them on at night? So cosy and comfy.
The word pyjamas comes from the Persian words “pa” (=leg) and “jama” (=garment). This gave birth to the Urdu word “pa-jama” or “pay-jama”, loose fitting trousers worn by both men and women across all social classes throughout South Asia and the Middle East.
Pyjamas only became popular in Britain as luxury lounge- and sleepwear for men in the latter half of the 19th century after colonists adopted the items and brought them back to the home country.
By the 1930s, women were getting in on the pyjama fun too, as they freed themselves from the restrictive corsets, skirt obligations and hemlines of the past and embraced the stylish comfort of loose-fitting clothes.
Whatever time of day it is, it’s pyjama time!
Fun fact! The Americans still spell the word “pajamas”, staying more faithful to the original Urdu word than the British.
7. Pundit
Meaning: A learned person who offers authoritative opinions on a subject, usually via the mass media.
One mostly refers to pundits when you talk about political or sport commentators. So, the former players and experts you see on TV before a football game pontificating on what might happen, at half-time analysing what’s happened thus far and after the final whistle telling us what it all means are football pundits.
Political pundits pop up all the time but have a field day around election time when the big decisions about the direction of a country’s leadership are made and we get to see whether the pollsters were right or not. If you’re into sport or politics, you might engage in a bit of armchair punditry yourself at home or in the pub over drinks.
And the origins of the word? Quite straightforward. “Pundit” comes from the Sanskrit “pandita”, meaning a “scholar” or a “learned man”.
8. Kedgeree
Meaning: Flavourful dish made of flaked fish (mostly smoked haddock), boiled rice, boiled egg, curry powder, parsley, lemon juice and (sometimes) sultanas.
Kedgeree is a staple of British cuisine. Traditionally, it is a breakfast dish, but can be eaten at any time of day – hot or cold. It takes time and effort to prepare, but that’s what makes eating kedgeree into an occasion. It is bursting with exotic flavours, but takes care of those comfort food urges too with its homely additions.
Kedgeree began life in the British Raj as “khichdi” or “khichari”, a dish of rice and lentils which goes back to the 1300s. It was then adopted by the Mughal empire as a fasting dish.
Just as they did with curry, the British made the dish their own back on the Island, cutting out the lentils and adding their own distinct accents with the taste and texture of smoked haddock. It’s the ultimate in Anglo-Indian dining.
9. Mulligatawny
Meaning: A hearty, spicy soup containing peppers, lentils and chicken or mutton.
Just like kedgeree, this classic British soup is an Anglo-Indian creation inspired by Southern Indian cuisine. The name comes from two Tamil words, “milaku” (=pepper) and “tanni” (=water).
Today, it’s one of Britain’s best-loved soups. The list of ingredients for mulligatawny is quite long, which is why I only make it occasionally. But then, I cook a huge vat of the stuff so we can enjoy and savour it over several days. My recipe contains peppers, tamarind paste, chilis, lentils, tomatoes, shredded chicken and rice. A delicious and spicy treat to warm you up in the drab winter months.
10. Cushy
Meaning: Comfortable, easy, making few demands but giving disproportionate rewards.
A cushy job is what everyone wants to have. One which is stimulating, pays well, and has great perks – but doesn’t strain your brain too much and leaves you with plenty of leisure time.
If you’ve got cheap rent on a nice flat in an otherwise expensive neighbourhood, then that is a seriously cushy situation you have there, my friend.
This Anglo-Indian word entered English slang in the late 19th/early 20th century and comes from the Urdu word “ḵhushī”, meaning joy, pleasure or convenience.
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Related articles:
11 weird British sayings and their mysterious origins
Old-fashioned words and phrases in British English
Obsolete words in British English that we should resurrect
What a kerfuffle! 10 of the funniest words in British English
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Photo credit: Dmitry Rukhlenko on Envato Elements