Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.15915

c10.15915

**ZAMORIN**, s. The title for many centuries of the Hindu sovereign of Calicut and the country round. The word is Malayāl. *Sāmūtiri*, *Sāmūri*, *Tāmātiri*, *Tāmūri*, a *tādbhava* (or vernacular modification) of Skt. *Sāmundri*, ‘the Sea-King.’ (See also *Wilson*, *Mackenzie MSS.* i. xcvii.) [Mr. Logan (*Malabar*, iii. Gloss. s.v.) suggests that the title *Samudri* is a translation of the Rāja’s ancient Malayāl. title of *Kunnalakkon*, i.e. ‘King (*kon*) of the hills (*kunnu*) and waves (*ala*).’ The name has recently become familiar in reference to the curious custom by which the Zamorin was attacked by one of the candidates for his throne (see the account by A. Hamilton (ed. 1744, i. 309 seq. *Pinkerton*, viii. 374) quoted by Mr. Frazer (*Golden Bough*, 2nd ed. ii. 14 seq.).]