The Moghul

leopard
    dai—midwife nurse
    dal—lentils
    darshan—ceremonial dawn appearance of Moghul
    devadasi—temple dancer, a special caste
    dey—Turkish ruler
    dharma—purpose or duty in life of Hindus
    dhoti—loincloth
    diwali—Indian New Year
    Diwan-i-Am—Hall of Public Audience
    Diwan-i-Khas—Hall of Private Audience
    durbar—public audience
    feringhi—foreigner
    fil-kash—elephant-drawn cannon
    firman—royal decree
    frigalla—Portuguese frigate
    gau-kash—ox-drawn cannon
    ghee—clarified butter
    ghola—blend of opium and spice
    gopi—milkmaid
    gulal bar—royal compound in camp
    gur—unrefined cane sugar
    guru—teacher
    gurz—three-headed club
    hal—goalposts for chaugan
    harkara—confidential court reporters
    hookah—water pipe for smoking tobacco
    howdah—seat carried on back of elephant
    jagir—taxable lands granted to a nobleman
    kama—love, sensual pleasure
    karwa—Indian seaman
    katar—knife designed for thrusting
    khabardar—"take heed"
    khaftan—quilted vest worn under armor
    kos—approximately two miles
    kamar-band—ceremonial waist sash
    lakh—a hundred thousand
    lapsi—preparation of gur, ghee, and wheat
    lila—play or sport
    lor langar—chain attached to elephant's leg
    lungi—long waist wrap worn by men
    mahal—palace
    mahout—elephant driver
    maidan—public square
    mansab—rank given a nobleman
    mansabdar—nobleman granted estates to tax
    mardum-kash—small cannon
    masala—blend of spices, "curry powder"
    mihaffa—wooden turret suspended between two animals
    mina bazaar—mock bazaar held on Persian New Year
    mirdanga—South Indian drum
    mohur—gold coin
    mudra—hand signs in the Indian classical dance
    musallim—navigator on Indian ship
    mutasaddi—chief port official
    nakuda—owner-captain of Indian trading vessel
    naqqara-khana—entry to royal compound
    nashudani—"good-for-nothing"
    nautch—suggestive dance
    nezah—lance
    nilgai—Indian deer
    nim—plant whose root is used for cleaning teeth
    nimaste—Hindi greeting, "Hello"
    pahar—three hours
    pakhar—steel plate elephant armor
    palas—wood used for chaugan stick
pan—betel leaf rolled around betel nut and spices and chewed
    panch—wine punch
    pandit—Hindu scholar
    pice—Indian "penny"
    postibangh—mixture of opium and hemp extract
    prahna—spirit, life force
    Puranas—Hindu scriptures
    qamargha—hunt using beaters to assemble game
    qarawals—beaters for hunt
    qazi—judge
    qur—hunting enclosure containing game
    rasa—aesthetic mood
rasida—"arrived"; a piece that reaches center in chaupar board game
    sachaq—marriage present
    sandali—type of eunuch
    sarachah—royal platform
    sarangi—Indian musical instrument, resembling violin
    sari—woman's wrap
    sati—immolation of Hindu wife with body of her husband
    sehra—bridegroom's crown
    sharbat—lemon and sugar drink
    shikar—the hunt
    sitkrita—intake of breath signifying female orgasm
    strappado—Portuguese torture device
    sum—climax of rhythmic cycle in Indian music
    sutra—Hindu scripture
    suwar—"horse rank" granted noblemen
    swanih-nigar—special spy
    tari—species of palm
    tavaif— Muslim courtesan
    teslim—prostrate bow to Moghul
    tithi—day in the lunar calendar
    todah—mound of earth for bow and arrow target practice
    topiwallah—"man who wears a hat," i.e., a foreigner
    tundhi—drink made from seeds and juices
    vama—Aryan scriptures
    wakianavis—public court reporters
    wallah—man
    wazir—counselor
    yogi— Hindu contemplative
    zat—personal rank given a nobleman
    zenana—harem
    zihgir—thumb ring for shooting bow

    BOOKS BY THOMAS HOOVER

    Nonfiction

    Zen Culture
    The Zen Experience

    Fiction

    The Moghul
    Caribbee
    The Samurai Strategy
    Project Daedalus
    Project Cyclops
    Life Blood
    Syndrome
    The Touchdown Gene

    Also see www.thomashoover.info