brinjal

English

brinjal

Alternative forms

• brinjall, brinjaul

Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese beringela, from Arabic بَاذِنْجَان‎ (bāḏinjān), from Persian بادنجان‎ (bâdenjân), from Sanskrit वातिगगम (vātiga-gama, “eggplant”). Doublet of aubergine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɹɪnd͡ʒəl/

Noun

brinjal (plural brinjals)

1. (South Asia, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore) An aubergine or eggplant.
   • 1858, George Trevor, India, an historical sketch, page 14:

     Hindustan produces abundance of wheat, and throughout India the natives are plentifully supplied with vegetables and fruit; the brinjal, tomato, yam, carrot, radish, onion, garlic, spinach cabbage, nowkohl, cucumbers, and other gourds, may be mentioned among the former

Synonyms

• See the list at eggplant.

Related terms

• brown jolly

Translations

an aubergine — see eggplant

References

• John Richardson; Sir Charles Wilkins; David Hopkins (1810) A vocabulary, Persian, Arabic, and English: abridged from the quarto edition, page 87
• 1903, Yule, Henry, Sir. Hobson-Jobson: A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive. New ed. edited by William Crooke, B.A. London: J. Murray, p. 115-116
• “Three Pandits”, in Learn Telugu through English in One Month, 1st edition, 2003, page 63
• Ranga Rao. (2009) Learn Kannada in 30 Days, 27th edition, page 43