dacoit

English

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Alternative forms

• dakoit

Etymology

From Hindi डकैत (ḍakait), from डाका (ḍākā, “gang-robbery”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dəˈkɔɪt/
• Rhymes: -ɔɪt

Noun

dacoit (plural dacoits)

1. (chiefly India) A bandit or armed robber, especially in India, Pakistan, and the surrounding region.
   • 1954, "The Terror of Kings," Time, 19 July,

     The history of northern India is studded with the names of notorious outlaw dacoits who roam the hills in the name of Kali, robbing the rich, comforting the poor, and in general spreading terror and rough justice.

   • 1982, TC Boyle, Water Music, Penguin 2006, p. 49:

     On the way back Boyles led him down a lampless lane, and sure enough, a pair of dacoits pounced on them.

   • 2004, Catherine Philp, "India's Bandit King is betrayed," The Times, London, 20 Oct.,

     “The notorious forest brigand, bandit, murderer and dacoit, Veerappan, along with his entire gang, has been shot dead,” Jayaram Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu State, announced.

   • 2007, "EDITORIAL: Pakistani Phoolan Devi’s short career," Daily Times, Pakistan, 21 Apr.,

     A very athletic female dacoit was arrested in North Nazimabad in Karachi after she vaulted over a nine-foot wall, following her unsuccessful attempt at armed robbery in the house of a retired banker.

References

• “dacoit” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
• "dacoit" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
• "dacoit" in Compact Oxford English Dictionary, © Oxford University Press, 2007.
• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996