puttywalla

English

Etymology

Hindi [Term?] (literally “one with a belt”); see puttee, wallah.

Noun

puttywalla (plural puttywallas)

1. (India, historical) A messenger or orderly attached to an office, and bearing a belt and brass badge.

Alternative forms

• puttywallah

References

• Henry Yule, A[rthur] C[oke] Burnell (1903) “puttywalla”, in William Crooke, editor, Hobson-Jobson […] , London: John Murray, […].