woordie major

English edit

Etymology edit

Uncertain. Yule states: "Both the rationale of the compound title, and the etymology of wardī, are obscure. Platts gives Hind. wardī or urdī, 'uniform of a soldier, badge or dress of office,' as the first part of the compound, with a questionable Skt. etymology, viruda, 'crying, proclaiming, a panegyric.' But there is also Ar. wird, 'a flight of birds,' and then also 'a troop or squadron,' which is perhaps as probable. Others, again, as many military titles have come from S. India, connect it with Can. varadi, 'news, an order.'"

Noun edit

woordie major (plural woordie majors)

(India, military, obsolete) A native adjutant in regiments of Indian irregular cavalry.

Alternative forms edit

wurdee major

References edit

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