chaprasi

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi चपरासी (caprāsī).

Noun

chaprasi (plural chaprasis)

1. (India) An official of some kind, especially an important attendant or messenger in the household of an Indian landowner.
   • 1924, E. M. Forster, A Passage to India, Penguin, published 2005, page 13:

     A servant in scarlet interrupted him; he was the chuprassy of the Civil Surgeon, and he handed Aziz a note.

   • 1934, George Orwell, chapter 22, in Burmese Days‎^[1]:

     Two clerks who had witnessed the scene, and a chaprassi, were sent along to Mr Macgregor's office to corroborate the story. They lied in perfect unison.

   • 2004, Khushwant Singh, Burial at Sea, Penguin, published 2014, page 78:

     Liveried chaprasis were bringing in wreaths to be placed on Mattoo's body, from the Governor General, Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, heads of industrial houses.

Alternative forms

• chaprassi, chaprassie, chuprassi, chuprassie, chuprassy

Anagrams

• charpais, haircaps