Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.12845
Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.12845
- Language
- English
c10.12845
1870.—“*Ryot* is a word which is much . . . misused. It is Arabic, but no doubt comes through the Persian. It means ‘protected one,’ ‘subject,’ ‘a commoner,’ as distinguished from ‘*Raees*’ or ‘*noble*.’ In a native mouth, to the present day, it is used in this sense, and not in that of tenant.”—*Systems of Land Tenure (Cobden Club)*, 166.