Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.15837

c10.15837

**WOORDY-MAJOR**, s. The title of a native adjutant in regiments of Indian Irregular Cavalry. Both the rationale of the compound title, and the etymology of *wardī*, are obscure. Platts gives Hind. *wardī* or *urdī*, ‘uniform of a soldier, badge or dress of office,’ as the first part of the compound, with a questionable Skt. etymology, *viruda*, ‘crying, proclaiming, a panegyric.’ But there is also Ar. *wird*, ‘a flight of birds,’ and then also ‘a troop or squadron,’ which is perhaps as probable. [Others, again, as many military titles have come from S. India, connect it with Can. *varadi*, ‘news, an order.’]