[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928) › c20 # The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c20: Glossary The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c20 - **Language:** English ### Glossary ### [c20.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.1) \*Aftabgir\* (or \*Aftabgiri\*, \*Aftagir\*) — ‘This sun screen (\*aftab\*, sun; \*gir\*, root of \*giriftan\*, to take), shaped like an open palm-leaf fan, was also called \*suraj-mukhi\* (Hindi, literally, sun-face). By the Moghul rules it could only be granted to royal princes (\*Mirat-ul-Istilah\*, fol. 3). In the eighteenth century, however, the Mahrattas adopted it as one of their commonest ensigns, and even the smallest group of their cavalry was in the habit of carrying one.’ Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, p. 34. ### [c20.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.2) \*Alvara\* — Charter or prince’s letters-patent. Lacerda, \*A New Dictionary of the Portuguese and English Languages\*, p. 65. ### [c20.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.3) \*Amin\* — ‘The word is Arabic \*Amin\*, meaning a “trustworthy person”; and then an inspector, intendant, \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 17. ### [c20.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.4) \*Arrack\* — ‘This word is the Arabic \*arak\* properly “perspiration”, and then first the exudation or sap drawn from the date palm (\*arak al-tamar\*); secondly, any strong drink, “distilled spirit”, “essence”; etc. In India it is applied to a variety of common spirits; in S. India to those distilled from the fermented sap of sundry palms; in E. and N. India to the spirit distilled from cane-molasses, and also to that from rice.’ Crooke, \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 36. ### [c20.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.5) \*Balparveshi\* — (A compound of \*bal\*, child, and \*parwardan\*, to rear or foster.) ‘A pension or maintenance granted by a Government to the family of a soldier or servant who died in its service.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 579. ### [c20.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.6) \*Bania\* — Merchant, a man of the trading caste. ### [c20.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.7) \*Bazar\* — Market. ### [c20.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.8) \*Beldar Lugare\*—Beldar, a wandering caste of quarrymen. ‘They are strong and dark and the men wear the moustache and top-knot. They speak Marathi. They are stone-cutters and bricklayers, digging wells, blasting rocks, and breaking stones. Their houses are like those of cultivating Marathas. The men wear the loin cloth, waist cloth, and short tight trousers or \*cholnas\*, the jacket, and the Maratha turban; and the women dress in the ordinary Maratha robe and bodice and do not tuck the end of the robe back between the feet. They eat fish and flesh and drink liquor. They are hard working, orderly, and hospitable but fond of drink. They have caste councils, do not send their boys to school, and are a steady people earning enough to maintain themselves.’ \*Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency\*, Vol. XX, pp. 91-2. \*Lugadu\* means a robber or plunderer. \*Beldar Lugare\*, therefore, stands for a plunderer of the Beldar caste. ### [c20.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.9) \*Bildar\*—The same as Beldar, but when used in relation to the army the word means a digger or pioneer. See \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 94; Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, pp. 173-4. ### [c20.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.10) Bhaldar—Mace-bearer. ‘An attendant on great men who waits with a wand in his hand—an usher.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 611. ### [c20.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.11) Bunga—Baggage of an army. See p. 149; also Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 572. ### [c20.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.12) Cafilla—‘Arabic \*Kafila\*; a body or convoy of travellers. Also used for a sea convoy.’ Hobson Jobson, p. 142; Dalgado, \*Glossario duso-Asiatico\*, Vol. I, pp. 169-70. ### [c20.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.13) Cartaz—Permit or passport. ### [c20.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.14) Charrua—Ship of burden, merchant ship, store ship. ### [c20.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.15) Chitnis—(From \*Chithi\*, letter, and \*navishtan\*, to write). Correspondence clerk or secretary. ### [c20.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.16) Cozzy—Arabic \*Kadi\*, a judge. ### [c20.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.17) Daftardar—‘An ancient public officer. His duty was to collect and frame in order the accounts of the waste-book as prepared by the Fadnis, and to transmit monthly abstract accounts to the Huzur.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 402. ### [c20.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.18) Dakshini—Southerner, a man hailing from the Deccan. ### [c20.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.19) Darakhdar—‘A holder of a hereditary public office especially Diwan, Mazumdar, Fadnis, Sabnis, Karkhannis, Chitnis, Jamdar and Potnis.’ Sen, \*Administrative System of the Marathas\*, p. 665. ### [c20.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.20) Desy—More correctly Desai. ‘An hereditary Officer, the head of a Pergunnah. He is the same as the Deshmukh.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 426. ‘In W. and S. India a native official in charge of a district, often held hereditarily, a petty chief.’ Hobson Jobson, p. 306. ### [c20.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.21) Dhal—Shield. A shield was made of either steel or hide. Brahmans often used a shield made of forty or fifty folds of silk. Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Mogluls\*, pp. 77-88; Egerton of Tatton, \*Indian and Oriental Armour\*, p. 111-18, 134, 139. ### [c20.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.22) Duan—More correctly, Diwan or Dewan. ‘A prime minister.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 413. ‘The head financial minister, whether of the state or a province . . . . . charged, in the latter, with the collection of the revenue, the remittance of it to the imperial treasury, and invested with extensive judicial powers in all civil and financial causes’. Wilson quoted in Hobson Jobson, p. 309. ### [c20.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.23) Durbar—More correctly, Darbar. Court or levee. ### [c20.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.24) Fadnis—‘A public officer—the keeper of the registers, etc. By him were issued all grants, commissions, and orders; and to him were rendered all accounts from the other departments.’—Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, pp. 547. ### [c20.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.25) Farman—Royal mandate, grant or patent. ### [c20.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.26) Faujdari—The Faujdar was a military governor of a small district; Faujdari was an \*abwab\* or \*abwabs\* exacted by the Faujdar. ### [c20.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.27) Gariwan—Carter. ### [c20.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.28) Ghat—Mountain pass, landing-place. ### [c20.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.29) Golandaz—(From \*gola\*, a ball, and \*andakhtan\*, to throw) Gunner. Gumashta—Agent or factor. \*Hon\* — Gold coin (from Canarese \*honnu\*, gold). Wilson quoted in \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 425. The value of this coin varied at different places and different times. From a manuscript in the Bodleian Library (Rawlinson Manuscript 841, fol. 1) it appears that the weight of a Kaveripak pagoda (or hon) was 2 dw. 5 gr. 8m. ½ atts and its value in Madras currency (in 1679-80) was 18 fanams 1 cash. ‘Accounts at Madras down to 1818 were kept in pagodas, fanams and Kas; and 8 Kas = 1 fanam, 42 fanams = 1 pagoda. In the year named the rupee was made the standard coin. The pagoda was then reckoned as equivalent to 3½ rupees.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 653. \*Houdah\* — Seat carried by an elephant. \*Howda\* — See \*Houdah\*. \*Inam\* — ‘Arabic. \*in’am\*, “a gift” (from a superior), “a favour” but specially in India a gift of rent free land; also land so held.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 433. \*Jahgir\* — (from \*Jah\*, a place, and \*giriftan\*, to take.) ‘An assignment of the land revenue of a certain number of villages or of a sub-division.’ Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, p. 14. \*Jamadar\* — Petty officer. \*Jamadar\* — Treasurer. \*Jari Patka\* — ‘The Banner, “Zari-patta” which was always carried before Ragobah, was small and swallow-tailed of crimson and gold tissue with gold fringes and tassels.’ Egerton of Tatton, \*Indian and Oriental Armour\*, p. 114. \*Jasud\* — Scout. \*Jejala\* — (\*Jajail\* or \*Gingall\*). ‘A wall-piece or swivel gun.’ Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, pp. 109-11. ‘They use large heavy wall pieces called gingalls, which send a ball of two or more ounces to a very considerable distance.’ Fitzclarence, \*Journal of a Route across India\*, p. 246. \*Jinsa\* — Grand park of artillery. See p. 149. Irvine interprets \*Jinsi\* as ‘the artillery attached to the emperor’s person.’ \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, p. 133. \*Karbhari\* — ‘A manager or Major domo.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 159. ‘An agent, a manager.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 475. \*Karkounas\* — More correctly, \*korkhono\*, a workshop, a manufactory. The word, when applied to a state department, means a royal establishment. See Sen, \*Administrative System of the Marathas\*, p. 668. \*Kaul\* — Writing of assurance, agreement or engagements as granted by Government. \*Kaveripak Hon\* — See \*Hon\*. \*Khalasi\* — Seaman, chainman, tentpitcher, gunner or artillery man. \*Khandi\* — Measure of weight equivalent to twenty maunds. \*Khasnis\* — Private scribe of king or grandee. \*Khijmatgar\* — More correctly \*khidmatgar\* (from Arabic \*khidmat\*, service), a servant. \*Kuran\* — Ground preserved for growing grass. ### [c20.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.30) \*Laskar\* — Army or camp; also, soldier or gunner as well as a sailor. ### [c20.31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.31) \*Mahmudi\* — Silver coin current in Gujarat and the west coast of India. According to Herbert, a Mahmudi was worth eight pence in English money. Fryer says, ‘Mamodies are current only in Surat, and Parts adjacent; they are worth somewhat less than an English Shilling.’ Mahmudi chaparis carried a higher exchange value than Mahmudi chalanis. See Dalgado, \*Glossario Luso-Asiatico\*, Vol. II, pp. 18-19. ### [c20.32](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.32) \*Mansab\* — ‘The word \*Mansab\* is literally the place where anything is put or erected; and then, as a secondary meaning the state or condition of holding a place, dignity or office.’ Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, p. 3. ### [c20.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.33) \*Mukkadam\* — Village headman. ### [c20.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.34) \*Mulukgiri\* — (From \*mulk\*, a country, and \*giriftan\*, to take.) Foreign expedition; generally a plundering raid. ### [c20.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.35) \*Musand\* — ‘The large cushion, etc., used by native Princes in India, in place of a throne.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 600. ### [c20.36](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.36) \*Nakhoda\* — (From Persian \*no-khuda\*, lord of the boat.) Skipper or captain of a ship. ### [c20.37](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.37) \*Nalbandi\* — Literally the price of shoeing a horse. ‘A small advance of pay made to horse-soldiers on engaging them, or on dispatching them upon any service.’ Molesworth. \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, pp. 460. ### [c20.38](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.38) \*Nishan\* — Letter written by an imperial prince. ### [c20.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.39) \*Nujebs\* — (From Ar. \*najib\* ‘noble.’) ‘A kind of half-disciplined infantry soldiers under some of the native Government.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 631. Also see Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, pp. 164-5. ### [c20.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.40) \*Ol\* — Hostage. ### [c20.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.41) \*Pal\* — Frigate, see p. 180. Also ‘a cloth or a large blanket, etc. stretched across a pole, forming a sort of tent with two sloping sides and two open ends.’ Molesworth, \*A Dictionary—Marathi and English\*, p. 512. ### [c20.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.42) \*Parangue\* — (Probably derived from Tamil \*padagu\*.) Small boat, used for transporting provision on the Malabar coast. See Dalgado, \*Glossario Luso-Asiatico\*, Vol. II, p. 169. ### [c20.43](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.43) \*Parasnis\* — Persian secretary. ### [c20.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.44) \*Pataxo\* — ‘A pinnace. It is generally used for any tender that waits upon fleets and men of war.’ Lacerda, \*A New Dictionary of the Portuguese and English Languages\*, p. 681. ### [c20.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.45) \*Peshkash\* — ‘Persian \*Pesh-kash\*. Wilson interprets this as literally ‘first fruits’. It is used as an offering or tribute but with many specific and technical senses which will be found in Wilson, \*e.g.\*, a fine on appointment, renewal, or investiture; a quit-rent, a payment exacted on lands formerly rent-free, or in substitution for service no longer exacted; sometimes a present to a great man, or (loosely) for the ordinary Government demand on land.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 701. ### [c20.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.46) \*Potdar\* — Officer whose duty was to assay all money paid into the treasury. ### [c20.47](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.47) \*Pradhan\* — Minister. ### [c20.48](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.48) \*Purvia\* — One belonging to the eastern provinces. The Marathas applied this term generally to recruits from Oudh. ### [c20.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.49) \*Rahdari\* — Transit dues, originally meant for paying travelling guards. See Moreland, \*From Akbar to Aurangzib\*, p. 286. ### [c20.50](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.50) \*Rojmura\* — Wages. ### [c20.51](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.51) \*Ramoshi\* — ‘They claim descent from Ram, who they say created them when he passed through the Deccan to Ceylon. Their rites, ceremonies, and home speech seem to show a Telegu origin. They are divided into Chavans and Jadhavs. Like Kunbis they eat fish, fowls, and the flesh of goats and deer, and differ little from them in house, dress, or customs. They have a bad name for committing thefts, burglaries and gang and highway robberies, and stealing cattle and crops. Their children are petty thieves and robbers. They act as village watchmen and in return for their services hold rent-free lands and receive grain allowances. Some are labourers and others husbandmen. Their favourite god is Khandoba, but they worship the usual Brahmanic gods and goddesses. Their priests are ordinary village Brahmans. They practise bigamy and have to pay for their wives. They bury their dead.’ \*Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency\*, Vol. XXIV, p. 107. ### [c20.52](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.52) \*Saranjam\* — ‘Lands held in surinjam involve the condition of military service; the term is of Persian origin, meaning “furniture”, “apparatus”; implying that the lands are to defray the expense of equipment: in fact Surinjam is synonymous with military Jagheer.’ Sykes, \*Special Report on the Statistics of the Four Collectorates of Dukhan under the British Government\*, p. 286. ### [c20.53](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.53) \*Sartandel\* — Officer superior to Tandel. ### [c20.54](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.54) \*Serang\* — ‘A native boatswain, or chief of a lascar crew; the skipper of a small native vessel.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 812. ### [c20.55](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.55) \*Shikkdari\* — A shikkdar is a revenue collector of a small subdivision. Shikkdari is an \*abwab\* levied by a Shikkdar. ### [c20.56](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.56) \*Shutarnal\* — ‘Shutarnal, Zamburak, Shahin. These words seem all three to refer to the same weapon, what we should call a swivel-gun or wall-piece. Shutarnal is literally “camel-gun barrel”, and denotes the fact that they were sometimes carried on and fired from camels’ backs. Zamburak is derived from \*Zambur\*, a bee or wasp, with a diminutive added, and thus means ‘a little wasp’, probably in allusion to its sound when fired, or its power of stinging or wounding. \*Shahin\* literally “falcon”, seems a later name for the same thing; a name which was brought into India by Nadir Shah.’ Irvine, \*The Army of the Indian Moghuls\*, pp. 135-6. ### [c20.57](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.57) \*Tandel\* — ‘Malayal. Tandal. Telugu, Tandelu. The head or commander of a body of men; but in ordinary specific application a native petty officer of lascars, whether on board ship (boatswain) or in the ordinance department, and sometimes the head of a gang of labourers on public works.’ \*Hobson Jobson\*, p. 923. ### [c20.58](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.58) \*Tindal\* — See Tandel. ### [c20.59](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.59) \*Varat\* — Assignment either on a person or on a treasury. ### [c20.60](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.60) \*Zamburak\* — See \*Shutarnal\*. ### [c20.61](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20.61) \*Ziyafat\* — Literally means an invitation or a dinner, hence an \*abwab\* levied to meet the expenses of a dinner; an entertainment or dinner-tax. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c20) · Pramāṇa