Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.15962

c10.15962

**ZEMINDAR**, s. Pers. *zamīn-dār*, ‘landholder.’ One holding land on which he pays revenue to the Government direct, and not to any intermediate superior. In Bengal Proper the zemindars hold generally considerable tracts, on a permanent settlement of the amount to be paid to Government. In the N.W. Provinces there are often a great many zemindars in a village, holding by a common settlement, periodically renewable. In the N.W. Provinces the rustic pronunciation of the word *zamīndār* is hardly distinguishable from the ordinary Anglo-Indian pronunciation of *jamā’-dār* (see JEMADAR), and the form given to *zamīndār* in early English records shows that this pronunciation prevailed in Bengal more than two centuries ago.