durbar

See also: Durbar

English

Alternative forms

• darbar

Etymology

From Hindustani دربار / दरबार (darbār), from Classical Persian دربار (darbār, “royal court”).

Noun

durbar (plural durbars)

1. (historical) A ceremonial gathering held by a ruler in India.
   • 1868 February 7, "Englishman", "Attempted Assassination of Sir Salar Jung...", Hyderabad Times, Vol. III, p. 41:

     Sir Salar Jung was proceeding to the palace of the Nizam on his bocha, a sort of state palanquin, in order to be present at the customary Eed durbar... when two shots in rapid succession were fired.

   • 1934, George Orwell, chapter 25, in Burmese Days‎^[1]:

     A month after his retirement he was summoned to a durbar in Rangoon, to receive the decoration that had been awarded to him by the Indian Government.

   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 175:

     He decided to stage a durbar on the plains outside the city, at which the Afghans would be able to express their loyalty to their new ruler.

   • 1997, Kiran Nagarkar, Cuckold, HarperCollins, published 2013, page 456:

     Father had refused to see my brother privately and had chosen to speak to him at the durbar held to honour the victors of the Malwa campaign […]

2. (historical) An audience chamber.
   • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 12:

     “If you cannot gueſs, perhaps the bird himſelf may inform you, Madam,” ſaid the ſultan, who was withdrawing to the grand durbar.

3. (historical) The body of officials at a royal or princely court in India.