ANGLO-INDIAN WORDS

A

Amri from Amri, town in Sind province, Pakistan, its type station, of or belonging to the earliest known stone-using and shell-using culture of the Indus river system which extends also into the Sind and southern Baluchistan and is characterized by a distinctive pottery. [1]

Avatar  from Avatar means incarnation

B

Bandanna  from Bandhna,( lucknavi ) to tie a scarf around the head.

Bangle  from Bāngṛī बां��गड़ी�, a type of bracelet.

Barisal guns from Barisal, town in Bangladesh. Brontides heard near the town of Barisal on a mouth of the Ganges. [2]

brahmin   member of Hindu caste; traditional priest

Bungalow from banglA & Urdu banglA, literally, "(house) in the Bengal style". [3]

C

Calico  from calicut, meaning "a coarse cotton cloth with a bright printed pattern".

Cheesey  from ceez, meaning "thing." [ultimately from Persian چیز]

Cheetah  from cītā, ची�ता�, meaning "variegated body."

Chit  from Chitthi, a letter or note.

Chittagong wood from Chittagong, city in Bangladesh. The wood of either of two Indian trees (Chukrasia tabularis and Toona ciliata) of the family Meliaceae used for its mahoganylike qualities in cabinetwork. [4]

Chutney  from chatni, "to crush"

Cot  from Khāt, खा�ट, a portable bed.

Cummerbund  from kamarband , cf. Hindi कमरबांन्द - Urdu کمربند, meaning "waist binding" [ultimately from Persian کمربند]

Cushy

from khushi, cf. Hindi ख़ु�शी� - Urdu خوشی "easy, happy, soft" [ultimately from Persian]

D

Dacoit  from Dakait, meaning a member of a class of criminals who engage in organized robbery and murder.

Dekko  from Dekho, the imperitive 'look', meaning look at or study something "Take away dekko", "take a look"

Dharma  from Dharma, meaning righteous duty.

Doolally  from Deolali, a hospital in Maharashtra, India. It means having an unbalanced state of mind.

Flora  Latin cognate of Fulora, meaning Flowering or arrangement of flowers.

G

Garam Masala from Hindi and Urdu garam masala, literally, "hot spices". [5]

Guru  from Guru, A teacher, instructor, intellectual or spiritual guide or leader, any person who counsels or advises; mentor. e.g. "The elder senator was her political guru."

Gymkhana  A term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place and referred to any of various meets at which contests were held to test the skill of the competitors. In English-speaking countries, a gymkhana refers to a multi-game equestrian event performed to display the training and talents of horses and their rider [-khana from Pers. khānah خانه "house, dwelling"]

J

Jaconet modification of Urdu jagannathi, from Jagannath (Puri), [India], where such cloth was first made. [6]

Jhukar from Jhukar, Sind, Pakistan, where artifacts were found. Of or relating to a culture of the Indus valley about 2500 B.C. and later that is known from settlements built upon those of Harappa and is characterized by buildings inferior to Harappa and round crudely decorated seals or seal amulets of pottery. [7]

Jinnah cap after Pakistani statesman Muhammad Ali Jinnah died in 1948. A hat shaped like a fez but made of real or imitation karakul and worn by Pakistani Muslims on occasion.[8] It is called a "Karakulli topi" (Topi meaning cap).

Juggernaut  from Jagannath. Comes from the tradition of pulling the "Jagannath Rath" (Chariot) at Puri, Orrisa.

Jungle  from jangal, another word for wilderness or forest.

K

Karma  from Karma , meaning acts or deeds.

Khaki from khākī "of dust colour, dusty, grey", cf. Hindi ख़ु�क� - Urdu خاکی [ultimately from Persian].

Kulli from Kulli, locality in southern Baluchistan, Pakistan, site of the finds. Of or relating to a prehistoric culture of southern Baluchistan characterized by polychrome vases and small objects modeled in clay. [9]

L

Loot  from Lūta लू�ट, meaning loot.

M

Mug, Mugger  street robber, from Magar, meaning crocodile.

Multan from Multan, Pakistan. A kind of rug prevalent in Multan. [10]

P

Paki short for Pakistani. [11]

Pakistani from Hindustani Pakistan. [12]

Poori from Urdu puri, from Sanskrit pura "cake". [13]

Pukka  from Pakkā पक्क�, cooked, ripe, solid.

Pundit  from Pandit, meaning a learned scholar or Priest.

Q

Quetta from Quetta, town in Baluchistan, Pakistan. Of or belonging to a culture of northern Baluchistan of about the fourth millennium B.C. characterized by pottery decorated in geometric designs. [14]

R

Raita from Hindi & Urdu rayta. [15]

Rangpur from Rangpur, town and region in Bangladesh. Any of various mandarin oranges with sour highly acid fruits. [16]

Roti from Hindi & Urdu roti "bread"; akin to Prakrit rotta "rice flour", Sanskrit rotika "kind of bread". [17]

S

Sahiwal from Sahiwal, town in western Pakistan. An Indian breed of humped short-horned solid-colored dairy cattle. [18]

Sentry  from Santri, an armed guard.

Shampoo  from chāmpo (ची��प� /tʃãːpoː/) is the imperative of chāmpnā (ची��पना� /tʃãːpnaː/), "to smear, knead the muscles, massage" (the scalp massage with some kind of oily or treacly mixture just before a bath).

T

Teapoy  from Tipaya, a three legged stool.

Tharparkar from Thar and Parkar, district in Pakistan. An Indian breed of pale gray humped dairy cattle with lyrate horns. [19]

Thug  from Thag ठग, meaning thief or conman.

Toddy  from Tārī ता�ड़ी�, juice of the palmyra palm.

Philosophical and Learned Terms

Aryan - A member of the people who spoke the parent language of the Indo-European languages. In Nazism, a Caucasian Gentile, especially Nordic type.Of or relating to Indo-Iranian languages.Sanskrit arya - noble

chakra - One of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the human body according to yoga philosophy.Sanskrit chakram - wheel, circle

dharma - A Buddhist principle and ultimate truth. Social custom and right behavior. Hindu moral law.Hindi dharma, from Sanskrit

Guru - A teacher and a guide in spiritual and philosophical matters. A mentor. A recognized leader in a field. "Fitness Guru"Hindi/Punjab - guru (teacher), from Sanskrit guruh -weighty, heavy, grave

Juggernaut - Something, such as a belief or an institution, that elicits blind and destructive devotion or to which people are ruthlessly sacrificed.An overwhelming, advancing force that crushes or seem to crush everything in its path.The name of the Hindu deity Krishna - JuggernathHindi Jaganath - Lord Krishna, from Sanskrit jaganatha : jagath -moving/the world + nathah - Lord/God

Mandala - Any of various ritualistic geometric designs symbolic of the universe, used in Hinduism and Buddhism, as an aid to meditation. Tamil mutalai - ball, from Sanskrit mandalam - circle

Nirvana - In Buddhism, the ineffable ultimate in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion. A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire now sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma. It represents the final goal in Buddhism.A state of perfect happiness.From Sanskrit nirvana, nirva -be extinguished + nis -out + va - to blow

Pariah - A social outcast. An Untouchable.Tamil pariah - caste name which means 'hereditary drummer'. The caste system in India placed pariahs or untouchables very low in society. First recorded in English in 1613.

Pundit - A learned person. A source of opinion. A critic. "a political pundit" Hindi pandit - a learned man, from Sanskrit panditah - learned scholar, perhaps from Dravidian origin.Purdah - A curtain or screen, used mainly in India to keep women separated from men or strangers. The Hindu or Muslim system of sex segregation, practiced especially by women in seclusion. Social seclusion: 'artists living in luxurious purdah'Urdu/Persian paradah - veil, curtain. pan-around, over + da- to place

Sati (suttee) - the former Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her husbands funeral pyre. Hindi sati, from Sanskrit meaning 'faithful wife'This practice was banned in India in the early 20th century, when the British ruled over India. However it continues even today, in under developed states and rural villages, such as Bihar (a state in North India)

Sutra - a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature or a set of these grammar or Hindu law or philosophy. In Buddhism - A scriptural narrative, especially a text traditionally regarded as a discourse of the Buddha. Sanskrit - sutram, tread, string

Kamasutra - A Sanskrit treatise setting forth rules for sexual, sensuous and sensual love, and marriage: in accordance with Hindu law, made popular today by Western marital therapists and psychologists. Sanskrit - Kamasutram: kamah - love, sutram - thread, string, manual

Swastika - The emblem of the Nazi Germany, officially adopted in 1935. In Buddhism and Hinduism, a religious symbol representing noble qualities and good luck. An ancient cosmic symbol formed by a Greek cross with ends of the arms bent at right angles either clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. Sanskrit svastika - sign of good luck: Svast - well being

Yoga - A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which includes breath control, simple meditation and the adoption of specific body postures widely practiced for relaxation.Sanskrit, literally meaning 'union', referring to the union of the mind, body and spirit.

Clothes, Clothing and Fashion

Bandana (bandanna) - A large handkerchief usually figured and brightly colored. Portuguese from, Hindi bandhunu (tie dyeing) and bandhana (to tie): from Sanskrit bhandhana tying.This word was probably absorbed to Portuguese, when the Portuguese ruled over Goa, Bombay during the early part of the 17th century, and from Portuguese was absorbed to English.

Bindi - A dot marked on the forehead, by Hindu wives, and sometimes men, to adorn or as a sign of the third eye - wisdom or God Shiva.From Hindi bindi. Made famous in the West by pop music singers.

Bangle - A rigid bracelet or anklet, especially one with no clasp. An ornament that hangs from a bracelet or necklace.Hindi bungri - glass

Cashmere - Fine downy wool growing in the outer hair of the cashmere goat. A soft fabric made out of this wool or similar fibres. Named after the state of Kashmir in India, where these goats were found in abundance, and famous for woolen clothing during the British Raj.

Chintz - A printed and glazed cotton fabric, usually of bright colors. Cotton cloth, especially plain white or unbleached.Hindi chint, from Sanskrit citra - shiny, variegated

Cummerbund - A broad sash, especially one that is pleated lengthwise & worn as an article of formal dress, as with dinner jacket. Hindi & Urdu - kamarband, from Persian kamar- waist + bandi- bandThe sash was formally worn in the Indian subcontinent by domestic workers and low status office workers.

Dhoti - A loincloth worn by Hindu men in India. The cotton fabric used for such loincloths.From Hindi dhoti

Dungaree - A sturdy, often blue, denim fabric. Trousers or overalls made of sturdy denim fabric. Hindi dumgri - hard/coarse.

Gunny - A coarse, heavy fabric made of jute or hemp, used especially for bags or sacks. Hindi ghoni - sack, from Sanskrit gharati-sack

Jute - Either of 2 plants yielding a fiber used for sacking and cordage.Bengali jhuto, from Sanskrit jutah - twisted hair, probably of Dravidian origin.

Jodhpurs - Long riding breeches, tight from the knee to ankle, named after the ancient city, Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan in North India. Men in this state wear trousers akin to riding breeches, hence the name 'jodhpurs'.

Khaki - A light olive brown to moderate or light yellowish brown. A sturdy cloth of this color. Khakis - trousers made from this cloth.Urdu khaki - dusty or dust colored, from Persian khak - dust

Musk- A strong smelling reddish brown substance which is secreted by the male musk-deer for scent making, which is also an important ingredient in perfumery. From Late Latin miscus, from Persian musk, from Sanskrit muska (scrotum)

Pajamas/pyjama - A lose fitting garment consisting of trousers and a jacket, worn for sleeping or lounging, often used in plural.Hindi paijama - loose fitting trousers, from Persian pai- leg + jamah - garment

Sari - A garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately run around the body, worn by women in the Indian subcontinent. It has 6 yards of material, with 1.5 yards hanging from one shoulder down to the ground, intricately woven with bright or contrasting colors. From Hindi sari

Shampoo - A liquid preparation containing soap for washing hair.Hindi campoo - press.

Words related to Food

Curry - A heavily spiced sauce or relish made with curry powder and eaten with rice, meat, fish or other food.A dish seasoned with curry powder - a mixture of various spices. Tamil - kari

Ginger - Mid E gingiveri from Old E gingifer, from Old French gingivre, from Med Latin-gingiber, from Latin zungiberi, from Greek - zingiberis from Pali singieram, from Dravidian (similar to Tamil) inciver, inci - ginger + ver- root.

Ghee - A clarified, semi-fluid butter used especially in Indian cookingHindi ghi, from Sanskrit gharati - sprinkles.

Kebab - Dish of small pieces of meat and/or vegetables, cooked on skewersUrdu/Persian kabab - roasted meat.

Kedgeree - A dish of rice, fish, hard-boiled eggs, often served for breakfast. In North India kedgeree refers to a mixture of rice cooked with butter and dhal, with spices and shredded onions.Hindi kedegree - butter rice

Mango - A fleshy yellowish-red tropical fruit, which is eaten ripe or used green for pickels. From Portuguese manga, from Malay manga, from Tamil manaky which means mango tree fruit.

Animal Names

Mongoose - Any of various Old World carnivorous mammals having agile body and a long tail and noted for the ability to seize and kill venomous snakes. Marathi mangus, of Dravidian origin.

Anaconda - A large non-venomous arboreal snake of tropical South America that kills its prey by suffocating in its coils. Alteration of Sinhalese henakandaya - whip snake.

Cheetah - A long-legged, swift running wild cat of Africa and Southwest Asia, having black-spotted, tawny fur and non-retractile claws.The fastest animal on land can run for short distances at about 96kn (60 miles) per hour. Hindi cita, from Sanskrit citrakaya - tiger/leopard: Citra- variegated + kaya - body

Miscellaneous

Bungalow - A small house or cottage usually having a single story and sometimes as additional attic story. A thatched or tiled one-story house in India surrounded by a wide veranda.Hindi bangala, Bengali bungalow, Gujarati bangalo

Bazaar - A market consisting of a street lined with shops and stalls especially one in the Middle East. A fair or sale at which miscellaneous articles are sold, often for charitable purposes.Italian bazaro, and Urdu bazaar, both from Persian.

Catamaran - A boat with two parallel hulls or floats, especially a light sailboat with a mast mounted on a transverse frame joining the hulls: A raft of logs or floats lashed together and propelled by a paddles or sails.Tamil kattumaram: kattu- to tie + maram- wood flog: tied wood

Cheroot (sheroot) - A cigar with square cut endsFrench cheroute, from Tamil curuttu/churuttu/shuruttu - roll of tobaccoThis word would have been absorbed into the French language during the early 16th century, when French were trying to get a foot hold in South India (Hyderabad), and from French would have come into English.

Coir - Fiber from the outer husk of the coconut, used in potting compost and for making ropes and matting.Origin from Malayalam kayaru - cord

Coolie - (coolly) Offensive. An unskilled Asian laborer Hindi and Telegu: kuli - day laborer, perhaps from kuli - a tribe in Gujarat or Urdu kuli - slaveA person from the Indian subcontinent: a person of Indian descent (Offensive)

Dinghy - A small open boat carried as a tender, lifeboat, or pleasure craft on a larger boat" A small rowboat. An inflatable rubber life raft.Hindi - dimgi, variant of demgi - float, raftThe 'gh' in English serves to indicate the hard 'g'

Gymkhana - Any of various meets at which contests are held to test the skill of the competitors, as in equestrian ship, gymnastics or sports car racing. Probably alteration (influenced by gymnastics) fromHindi gend-khana - race court:gend- ball + khana - house

Indigo - A tropical plant of the pea family, which was formerly widely cultivated as a source of dark blue dye.The dark blue dye obtained from this plantA color between blue and violet in the spectrumFrom Portuguese indigo, via Latin, from Greek Indikon, from India, the River Iindus

Loot (n) - Valuables pillaged in time of war: spoilsStolen goods: Goods illicitly obtained as by bribery.Loot (v) To pillage, spoilHindi lut, from Sanskrit loptrum/lotrum - plunder

Palanquin (palankeen) - A covered litter carried on poles on the shoulders of two or four men, formerly used in Eastern Asia.Portuguese - palanquim, from Javanese pelangki, from Pali pallanko, from Sanskrit paryankah - couch, bed

Polo - A game resembling hockey, played on horse back with a long handled clubs and a wooden ball. An ancient game of the East still played in upper Indus valley (extreme West of the Himalayas). Introduced first at Calcutta and a little later in Punjab and

played first in England in 1871.From Balti language (a Tibeto- Burman language) meaning ball

Teak - hard durable timbre used in shipbuilding and for making furniture. The large deciduous tree native to India and South East Asia, which yields this timber.From Portuguese teca, from Tamil Tamil/Malayalam tekka

Others

Atoll from Malayalam or Divehi - ring of coral enclosing a lagoon Bandicoot , from pandikoku (Telugu) Bungalow from Bungla (Hindustani) (lit. a house in the Bengal style) - a large

house, typically with a sloping, tiled roof Calico , from Calicut, a town and district of Kerala, (Malayalam) Coir , from kayar (Malayalam), from kayaru (Tamil) Copra , from Khobra (Marathi), from koppara (Malayalam), from kopparai (Tamil) Dhole , from tOla (Kannada) Doolally , "mad, insane" from the town of Deolali, where British officers were said

to develop a strange mental illness Jute (Bengali) Mongoose , from mungeesa (Telugu) or mungusi (Kannada) Pajamas (Hindustani) Polo (Balti) Tourmaline , from tōramallī (Sinhala) - cornelian, tourmaline

List of English words of Sanskrit origin

AAdityafrom Sanskrit āditya, the Vedic sun god. [1]

Agni  from Sanskrit Agnih, which means "fire". [2]

Ahimsa  from Sanskrit ahimsā, which means "not-harmful". [3]

Ambarella  through Sinhalese ultimately from Sanskrit, a kind of tree. [4]

Amrita  from Sanskrit amrtam, nectar of everlasting life. [5]

Aniline  through German, French and Portuguese from Arabic al-nili, ultimately from Sanskrit nili. [6]

Annapurna  from Sanskrit, consort of Shiva and an aspect of Devi. [7]

Arya  from Sanskrit ārya. [8]

Aryan 

from Latin Ariana, from Greek Aria, ultimately from Sanskrit Arya-s "noble, honorable". [9]

Asana  from Sanskrit āsanam which means "seat", a term describing yoga postures. [10]

Ashram  ultimately from Sanskrit āsramah, a religious hermitage. [11]

Asura  from Sanskrit a-sura, which means "negation of sura [god]", ie someone who have demonish qualities or someone who is against God. [12] "Sura" in Sanskrit also means liquor / alcoholic drink. A-sura means the one who does not drink liquor.

Atoll  through Maldivean probably ultimately from Sanskrit antala. [13]

Aubergine  from Catalan alberginera, via Arabic (al-badinjan) and Persian (badin-gan) ultimately from Sanskrit vātinganah. [14]

Avatar  from Sanskrit avatarana, which means "descent". [15]

Ayurveda  from Sanskrit āyurvedah, which means "knowledge of life". [16]

B

Bandana  from Hindi bandhnu, ultimately from Sanskrit badhnati, "binds". [17]

Banyan  from Sanskrit vanija, which means "a merchant". [18]

Basmati  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit vāsah. [19]

Bahuvrihi  from Sanskrit bahuvrīhih, a composite word. [20]

Beryl  from Old French beryl, via Latin, Greek and Prakrit (veruliya) ultimately from Sanskrit vaidurya-, of Dravidian origin, maybe from the name of Belur. [21]

Bhagavad-Gita  from Sanskrit, which means "song of the sublime". [22]

Bhagavata  from Sanskrit, one loyal to Bhagavat. [23]

Bhakti  from Sanskrit bhakti, which means "loyalty". [24]

Bhang  from Hindi bhang, which is from Sanskrit bhangah "hemp". [25]

Bharata  from Sanskrit bhārata. [26]

Bidi  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit vītikam. [27]

Brahma  from Sanskrit brahmā, which means "a prayer". [28]

Brahman 

from Sanskrit brāhmana. [29] Brahmin 

from Sanskrit brahmana-s, from brahman. [30] Brinjal 

from Persian badingān, probably from Sanskrit vātingana. [31] Buddha 

from Sanskrit buddha, which means "awakened, enligtened", refers to Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism [32] Also refers to one who is enlightened in accordance with the teachings of Buddha or a likeness of Buddha[33]

C

Candy  from Old French sucre candi, via Arabic and Persian probably ultimately from Sanskrit khanda "sugar", perhaps from Dravidian. [34]

Carmine  from French carmin, via Middle Latin from Arabic qirmiz "crimson", which is from Sanskrit krimiga. [35]

Cash  from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kAcu, which is from Sanskrit karsha, a weight of gold or silver. This is the proper noun related with the miscellaneous coins of small value, common noun "cash" is not of Sanskrit origin. [36]

Cashmere  from Kashmir, the Himalayan region where this wool is from. [37]

Chador  through Urdu and Persian ultimately from Sanskrit chattram. [38]

Chakra  from Sanskrit cakra, which means "a circle, a wheel". [39]

Champac  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit campaka, an evergreen tree. [40]

Cheetah  from Hindi chita "a leopard", from Sanskrit chitraka, which means "speckled". [41]

Chintz  from Hindi chint, which is from Sanskrit chitra-s "clear, bright". [42]

Chit  from Hindi chitthi "a letter, note", which is from Sanskrit chitra-s "uniquely marked". [43]

Chuddar  through Urdu ultimately from Sanskrit chattram. [44]

Chukar  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit cakorah. [45]

Chukker  from Hindi chakkar, from Sanskrit cakra, "a circle, a wheel". [46]

Citipati  from Sanskrit citi-pati, which means "a funeral pyre lord". [47]

Cot  from Hindi khat "a couch", which is from Sanskrit khatva. [48]

Cowrie 

from Hindi and Urdu kauri, which is from Sanskrit kaparda, probably related to Tamil. [49]

Crimson  from Old Spanish cremesin, via Middle Latin from Arabic qirmiz "a kermes", which is ultimately from Sanskrit krmi-ja. [50]

D

Dahl  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit dalah, meaning cotyledon of a pea pod, a type of Indian food, also refers to lentil in the US. [51]

Das  from Sanskrit daasa, a slave or servant. [52]

Datura  through Latin and Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit dhattūrāh, a kind of flowering plant. [53]

Deodar  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit devadāru, a kind of tree. [54]

Deva, Diva  from Sanskrit deva, which means "a god", akin to Latin deus, "god". Diva means day like in divakara, sun who makes the day.[55]

Devi  from Sanskrit devi, which means "a goddess". [56]

Dharma  from Sanskrit, which means "law, justice". [57]

Dhoti  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit dhūnoti, traditional garment of men's wear in India. [58]

Dinghy  from Hindi dingi "a tiny boat", probably from Sanskrit drona-m. [59]

E

Emerald  from Latin smaragdus, via Greek ultimately from Semitic or from Sanskrit marakata, "emerald". [60][61]

F

Falafel  from Arabic, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit pippalī. [62]

G

Ganesh  via Hindi Gaŋeś ultimately from Sanskrit Gaŋeśa. [63]

Ganja  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit gāñjyā, which means "of hemp". [64]

Gaur 

via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit gaurah. [65] Gavial 

through French and Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit ghantikah, a kind of crocodile. [66]

Gayal  perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit gauh via Bengali, a kind of animal. [67]

Gharry  perhaps finally from Sanskrit gartah via Hindi, a kind of vehicle. [68]

Ghee  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit ghritam. [69]

Ginger  from Middle Latin gingiber via Latin and Greek from Prakrit singabera, ultimately from Sanskrit srngaveram, which means "body of a horn", perhaps a Sanskrit folk etymology, an ancient Dravidian etymology is probable. [70]

Guar  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit gopālī, an annual legume. [71]

Gunny  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit goni "sack". [72]

Gupta  from Sanskrit goptri, the name of a Hindu dynasty. [73]

Gurkha  via Nepalese ultimately from Sanskrit goraksah, "a cowherd". [74]

Guru  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit guru-s, which means "a teacher". [75]

H

Hanuman  through Hindi from Sanskrit Hanuman, a kind of small monkey, Hindu mythological God. [76]

Hare Krishna  from Sanskrit Hare and Krishna. [77]

Himalaya  from Sanskrit himalayah, which means "place of snow". [78]

Hindi  from Hindi Hind, via Persian Hindu "Sind" ultimately from Sanskrit sindhu, which means "a river". [79]

Hindu  via Persian Hindu ultimately from Sanskrit sindhu, which means "a river". [80]

I

Indra  a prominent Vedic god, in charge of rain and thunder.

indra ia a god of rain and thunder like seyus . He is the leader of all gods like air(vaayu),water(varuna),fire(agni) lives in devalookam(swargam,heven). [81]

J

Jackal  from Turkish çakal, from Persian shaghal, from Middle Indic shagal, ultimately from Sanskrit srgalah "the howler". [82]

Jaggery  via Portuguese perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit sarkara. [83]

Jain or Jaina  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit jaina, which means "concerning the saints". [84]

Jungle  through Hindi jangal "a desert, forest" ultimately from Sanskrit jangala-s, which means "arid". [85]

Juggernaut  through Hindi jagannath ultimately from Sanskrit jagat-natha-s, which means "lord of the world". [86]

Jute  via Bengali jhuto ultimately from Sanskrit juta-s, which means "twisted hair". [87]

K

Kali  from Sanskrit kali. [88]

Kama Sutra  from Sanskrit Kāma Sutra, which means kāma "desire" and sutra. [89]

Karma  from Sanskrit karman, which means "work, fate". [90]

Kedgeree  probably ultimately from Sanskrit krśarah. [91]

Kermes  perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit via French and Arabic. [92]

Kos  through Hindi kos ultimately from Sanskrit krosah, which means "a call, a shout". [93]

Krait  through Hindi probably ultimately from Sanskrit, a kind of snake. [94]

Krishna  from Sanskrit krshnah, which means "black one", an avatar of Vishnu. [95] Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom all other avataras emanate. [96]

Khaki Hindi meaning 'of the dust'

L

Lac  through Persian and Hindi lakh from Prakrit lakkha, ultimately from Sanskrit laksha. [97]

Lacquer  through French and Portuguese from Arabic lakk, via Prakrit ultimately from Sanskrit laksha. [98]

Langur 

through Hindi probably ultimately from Sanskrit langūlam. [99] Lilac 

via Arabic lilak from Persian nilak meaning "bluish", ultimately from Sanskrit nila, which means "dark blue". [100]

Loot  ultimately from Sanskrit lota-m through Hindi, which means "a booty, stolen thing". [101]

M

Mahabharata  from Sanskrit Mahābhāratam, great story of the Bhāratas. [102]

Maharajah  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit maha-rājān, which means "a great king". [103]

Maharani  through Hindi finally from Sanskrit mahārājnī, which means "consort of a maharajah". [104]

Maharishi  from Sanskrit maha-rishi, which means "a great sage". [105]

Mahatma  from Sanskrit mahatman, which means "a great breath, soul". [106]

Mahayana  from Sanskrit maha-yana, which means "a great vehicle". [107]

Mahout  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit mahāmātrah. [108]

Mandala  from Sanskrit mandala, which means "a disc, circle". [109]

Mandarin  via Malay and Hindi mantri "a councillor" ultimately from Sanskrit mantri, which means "an advisor". [110]

Mantra  from Sanskrit mantra-s which means "a holy message or text". [111]

Maratha  from Sanskrit Maharastra, which means "a great country". [112]

Marut  from Sanskrit, a group of storm gods, sons of Rudra. [113]

Maya  from Sanskrit māyā, a religious term related with illusion. [114]

Meerkat  from Dutch meerkat, or probably through Hindi markat ultimately from Sanskrit markata meaning "an ape". [115]

Mitra  from Sanskrit Mitrah, which means "a friend". [116]

Moksha  from Sanskrit moksha, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. [117]

Mugger  via Hindi and Urdu ultimately from Sanskrit makara, like a crocodile, which attacks stealthily. [118]

Mung bean  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit mudgah, a kind of bean. [119]

Musk  via Late Latin and Late Greek moskhos from Persian mushk, ultimately from Sanskrit muska-s meaning "a testicle". [120]

Mynah  through Hindi maina ultimately from Sanskrit madana-s, which means "love". [121]

N

Nainsook  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit nayanam-sukh, a kind of fabric. [122]

Namaste  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit namas-te, which means "bowing to you". [123]

Nard  through Old French and Latin from Greek nardos, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit naladam. [124]

Narghile  through French and Persian nārghīleh ultimately from Sanskrit nārikelah. [125]

Nark  probably from Romany nak "a nose", via Hindi nak ultimately from Sanskrit nakra. [126]

Neem  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit nimbah, a kind of tree. [127]

Nilgai  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit nīla-gauh, an ox-like animal. [128]

Nirvana  from Sanskrit nirvana-s which means "extinction, blowing out". [129]

O

Opal  through Latin from Greek, probably ultimately from Sanskrit upalah. [130]

Orange  through Old French orenge, Middle Latin orenge and Italian arancia from Arabic naranj, via Persian narang and Sanskrit naranga-s meaning "an orange tree", ultimately from Tamil aru and anju meaning six and five, referring to the eleven segments of the orange's fruit. [131]

R

Raga  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rāgah, melodic modes used in Indian classical music. [132]

Raita  ultimately from Sanskrit via Hindi rāytā, a south Asian condiment and side dish made of yogurt and vegetables. [133]

Raj 

through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rājā, which means "a king". Raj means kingdom or domain of a ruler. [134]

Rajah  through Hindi from Sanskrit rājān, which means "a king". [135]

Rama  from Sanskrit Ramah, which means "pretty". [136]

Ramayana  from Sanskrit Rāmāyanam, which means "the gait of Rama". [137]

Ramtil  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rāmatilah, which means "a dark sesame". [138]

Rani  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rājnī, consort of a rajah. [139]

Rice  via Old French and Italian from Latin oriza, which is from Greek oryza, through an Indo-Iranian tongue finally from Sanskrit vrihi-s "rice", Tamil origin is also possible.[140] Tamil word is "arisi".[citation needed]

Rigveda  from Sanskrit rigveda, which means "knowledge of praise". [141]

Rudra  from Sanskrit, father of the storm gods. [142]

Rupee  through Hindi rupiyā ultimately from Sanskrit rūpyakam, an Indian silver coin. [143]

Rye  via Romani from Sanskrit rājā, rye is used to define a gypsy person. [144]

S

Saccharo-  via Latin and Greek from Pali sakkharā, ultimately from Sanskrit sarkarā. [145]

Sadhu  ultimately from Sanskrit sādhu. [146]

Samadhi  from Sanskrit samadhi, which means "putting together". [147]

Sambal  through Malay and Tamil ultimately from Sanskrit sambhārei. [148]

Sambar  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit śambarah, a kind of Asian deer. [149]

Samsara  from Sanskrit samsAra, which means "passing through". [150]

Sandal  via Old French and Arabic ultimately from Sanskrit candanam, this is the word sandalwood, not related to sandals which is a type of footwear. [151]

Sandhi  ultimately from Sanskrit samdhih, a wide variety of phonological processes. [152]

Sangha  from Sanskrit saṅgha, a community of Buddhist monks and nuns. [153]

Sanskrit 

from Sanskrit samskrtam "put together, well-formed". [154] Sapphire 

via Latin sapphirus and Greek sappheiros from a Semitic tongue, but probably finally from Sanskrit sanipriya. [155]

Sarasvati  from Sanskrit Sarasvati, name of a holy stream. [156]

Sari  through Hindi sari and Prakrit sadi, finally from Sanskrit sati "garment". [157]

Satyagraha  from Sanskrit satyagraha, which means "insisting on truth". [158]

Sattva  from Sanskrit sattvah, which means "truth". [159]

Shaman  through Russian from Tungus shaman, perhaps from Chinese sha men, via Prakrit finally from Sanskrit sramana-s "a Buddhist monk". [160]

Shampoo  via Hindi champo probably from Sanskrit capayati, which means "kneads". [161]

Shawl  from Persian shal, finally from Sanskrit satI, which means "a strip of cloth". [162]

Shiva or Siva  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit Sivah, which means "gracious". [163]

Siddha  from Sanskrit siddhah, which means "achieved, accomplished". [164]

Sikh  through Hindi sikh "a disciple", ultimately from Sanskrit siksati which means "studies". [165]

Singh  via Hindi Singh finally from Sanskrit simhah which means "a lion". [166]

Singapore  via Malay ultimately from Sanskrit Simhapuram, literally "the lion city". [167]

Sinhala  from Sanskrit Simhala which means "Sri Lanka". [168]

Sinhalese  from Sanskrit simhala which means "of lions". [169]

Stupa  from Sanskrit stūpah which means "crown of the head". [170]

Sudra  from Sanskrit śūdrah. [171]

Sugar  through Middle Latin succarum, Arabic sukkar and Persian shakar ultimately from Sanskrit sharkara which means "sugar". [172]

Sulfur  from Latin sulfur, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit sulvari. [173][174][175]

Sunn  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit sāna, a kind of Asian plant. [176]

Sutra  from Sanskrit sutram which means "a rule". [177]

Suttee  through Hindi finally from Sanskrit sati, which means "an honorable woman". [178]

Swami  through Hindi swami ultimately from Sanskrit svami, which means "a master". [179]

Swastika  from Sanskrit svastika, which means "one associated with well-being, a lucky charm". [180]

T

Taka  via Bengali from Sanskrit tankah. [181]

Talipot  through Hindi from Sanskrit tālapattram, a kind of tree. [182]

Tendu  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit tainduka. [183]

Tantra  from Sanskrit tantram, which means "weave". [184]

Thug  through Marathi and Hindi thag probably ultimately from Sanskrit sthaga, which means "a scoundrel". [185]

Til  from Sanskrit tilah, a kind of plant. [186]

Toddy  through Hindi tari ultimately from Sanskrit tala-s, a Dravidian origin is also probable. [187]

Tola  via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit tulā, a traditional Indian unit of mass. [188]

Toon  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit tunnah, a kind of tree. [189]

Tope  through Hindi probably from Prakrit thūpo, finally from Sanskrit stūpah. [190]

Tussah  through Hindi finally from Sanskrit tasaram, a large moth. [191]

Tutty  through Old French, Arabic and Persian ultimately from Sanskrit tuttham, a Dravidian origin is also probable. [192]

V

Varuna  from Sanskrit varunah, the lord of oceans. [193]

Veda  from Sanskrit veda, which means "knowledge, holy book". [194]

Vimana  from Sanskrit vimana meaning plane, also referred to the top of the temple tower, sanctum santorum. [195]

Vina  ultimately from Sanskrit through Hindi, a kind of instrument. [196]

Vishnu 

from Sanskrit Vishnu, a chief Hindu deity. [197] Vritra 

a snake-demon and the leader of the Danavas. [198]

Veranda : A verandah or veranda is a roofed opened gallery or porch वरण्डः . [199]

W

Wanderoo  through Sinhalese finally from Sanskrit vānarah, a kind of monkey. [200]

Wat  via Thai ultimately from Sanskrit vātah. [201]

Y

Yoga  through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit yoga-s, which means "yoke, union". [202]

Yogi  through Hindi yogi from Sanskrit yoga, one who practices yoga or ascetic. [203]

Z

Zen  through Japanese and Chinese ch'an ultimately from Sanskrit dhyana, which means "a meditation". [204]

Words of Tamil origin borrowed directly from Tamil

The following words were directly borrowed from Tamil:

appam  from Tamil appam (Source: OED)

cash  The primary meaning of the word cash, paper money, or money in general, comes from Latin capsa, chest. A secondary meaning of cash, referring to any of various coins used in southern India and China, comes ultimately from Tamil கா�சு kācu (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

catamaran  from Tamil காட்டுமரம் kaṭṭumaram("kattu"=tied up, "maram"=wood) (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

cheroot  from French cheroute, from Tamil சுருட்டு curuṭṭu, roll or rolled (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

corundum 

from a Tamil word for 'ruby', குருந்தம் kuruntam or குருவி�ந்தம் kuruvintam (Source: OED)

coir  from the Tamil word kayaru for rope or thread or to be twisted. (Source: The American Heritage Dictionary)

curry  from Tamil காறி� kaṟi, sauce (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

godown  from கா�டங்கு kidangu/kodangu a Tamil word for store room (Source: OED)

illupi  from Tamil iluppai (Source: OED)

kabadi/kabaddi  from Tamil kabadi (Source: OED)

Maldivian  from Tamil malaidhivu("malai"=mountain, "theevu"=island), (Source: OED)

Moringa  from முருங்கைகா murungai , a Tamil word for drumstick (Source: OED, AHD)

mulligatawny  from Tamil ம�ளகுத்தண்ணீர் miḷaku-taṇṇīr from miḷaku black pepper taṇṇīr, water (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

nadaswaram/nagaswaram  from Tamil nagasvaram (Source: OED)

pariah  from Tamil பகைறியர் paṟaiyar , plural of பகைறியன் paṟaiyaṉ (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

pandal  from Tamil pandal (Source: OED)

pongal  from Tamil pongal

poonga oil  from Tamil punku, oil from pungam tree (Source: OED)

poppadom  from அப்பளம் appalam a Tamil word for a crispy side dish (Source: OED)

portia tree  from Tamil puvaracu (Source: OED)

sambar  from Tamil sambar (Source: OED)

sangam  from Tamil sancam, (Source: OED)

Tamil  from Tamil Tamizh

tutenag  from Tamil tuttunagam (Source: OED)

vetiver  from Tamil vettiver; a tropical Indian grass; Botanical name: Vetiveria zizanioides; its aromatic roots are used for weaving screens and baskets and the oil in perfumery (source: AHD)

Anicut 

from Tamil Anaikattu Tope 

from Tamil thoppu A grove or group of trees Chutney

sauce made by blending the ingredients (Source: Webster's Dictionary)

Words of Tamil origin borrowed from Malayalam

Malayalam is a language which derived parts from Tamil and Sanskrit about 1000 years ago. The following English words of Tamil origin were borrowed from Malayalam.

betel  from Malayalam vettila; Tamil vettrilei: "vettru"=plant name + "ilei"=leaf, (Source: OED)

copra  from the Malayalam word koppara, coconut kernel or Tamil கொகா�ப்பகைர kopparai / கொகா�ப்பறி� koppara or Telugu word kobbera(Source: OED, AHD, MWD)

Malayalam  from Malayalam Malayalam, from Tamil malai, mountain, ala, people, and the appendix -am (Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam)

mango  from Portuguese manga, from Malayalam manga, from Tamil mangaai: "ma/mang"=plant name + "kaai"=fruit.

teak  from Malayalam thekku, from Tamil thekku

coir  from Malayalam kayar, from Tamil kayaru