chaukidar

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Hindi चौकीदार (caukīdār).

Noun[edit]

chaukidar (plural chaukidars)

  1. (India) A watchman; a guard.
    • 1887, Rudyard Kipling, From Sea to Sea:
      A chowkidar (watchman) was deputed to do justice.
    • 1969, H. R. F. Keating, Inspector Ghote plays a joker:
      ... And tell me do you think it was he himself who impersonated the policeman who so conveniently took over the guarding of the horse when the chowkidar's house was set on fire." "That is the chowkidar guarding the stables?" Ghote asked.
    • 2020, Sujit Sivasundaram, Waves Across the South, William Collins, published 2021, page 21:
      When he landed the chaukidars or gatekeepers drew their scimitars, thinking that Morgan was a Burmese general coming to Calcutta as a spy.

Related terms[edit]