Glossary Chapters 2-4 Burmese Days

1. Chokra Young man, boy "The invisible chokra who pulled the punkah rope outside was falling asleep in the glare."

2. Eheu! fugaces labuntur anni Alas! our fleeting years pass away (Latin) "Ah well, eheu fugaces! Those days are gone for ever, I am afraid."

3. Havildar British Indian Army rank equivalent to Sergeant, next above Naik (Indian)

4. Bo-kadaw A white man's wife (Burmese)

5. Machan  A safety platform in a tree used when hunting big animals such as tigers and leopards Indian)

6. Catlap Milk or weak tea, "only fit for the cat to lap" (English)

7. Dudh Milk? (Indian)

8. Talab Payment; wages? (Burmese?) "...wail something about his 'talab', which was eighteen rupees a month."

9. Civis Romanus sum I am a Roman citizen (Latin) "Good gracious, no one would believe anything against ME. Civis Romanus sum. I'm an Englishman - quite above suspicion."

10. Durwan A live-in doorkeeper (Indian)

(Also Pax Britannica The British Peace (Latin); Pukka Genuine; authentic (Indian) B.F. Bloody Fool? (English) "With the curious air of spite that some men can put into their tiniest action, he re-pinned the notice on the board and pencilled a tiny, neat 'B. F.' against Mr Macgregor's signature.")

Glossary Chapter 1 Burmese days

Unspecified, Indochina c. 1930, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I'm currently reading George Orwell's Burmese Days. He uses quite a few unfamiliar terms. Here are a number from Chapter 1

1. Dak Bungalow - A traveller's rest-house (for a postal service)

2. Topi - A light-weight hat

3. Sahib European man spoken to or of by Indians

4. Burra Great, used as title of respect; e.g. Burra sahib: important official, manager, chief. (Indian)

5. Pwe Burmese dance (Burmese)

6. Punkah Large fan consisting suspended from the ceiling

7. Longyi/Longyi Coolie  Sheet of cloth worn around the waist/Unskilled labourer (Burmese)

8. Dah Large knife with curved blade?

9. Sepoy Private soldier of the Indian infantry

10. Mali Gardener

(Also Rickshaw Two-wheeled cart for one passenger; pulled by one person; Dacoit Armed robber)

Watercolour of Awan sepoy by Major A.C. Lovett, c early 20th century
Painting included in the book, The Armies of India (publised 1911).
Public Domain via WIkipedia