palanquin
nounUS /ˌpælənˈkin/ · UK /ˌpalənˈkiːn/
Etymology From Portuguese palanquim (“Asian litter, litter-bearer”), from Odia ପାଲଙ୍କି (pālaṅki, “litter”), ultimately from Sanskrit पल्यङ्क (palyaṅka), variant of पर्यङ्क (paryaṅka, “bed, couch, litter”). Doublet of palki.
1
India, Historical An enclosed human-borne litter or sedan chair, a large box with a chair, couch, or bed raised on horizontal poles and used as a mode of transport.
- At the end of two moneths I determined to go for Goa in the companye of two other Portingale Merchants, which were making readye to depart, with two Palanchines or little Litters, which are very commodious for the waye, with eight Falchines which are men hired, to carrie the palanchines, eight for a palanchine, foure at a time...1588, Thomas Hickok translating Cesare Federici as The Voyage and Trauaile of M. Caesar Frederick, Merchant of Venice into the East India, the Indies, and beyond the Indies..., p. 10
- Behold the hero of the scene, In bungalow and palankeen.1885, Henry Austin Dobson, At the Sign of the Lyre, section 177:
2 more examples
- 'Sedan-chair! Put your 'ead in a bag. That was a palanquin. Don't yer know a palanquin when you see it?' said Ortheris with great scorn... What befell at that interview in the lonely pay-shed by the side of the half-built embankment, only a few hundred coolies know, and their tale is a confusing one, running thus... 'There was a palanquin, for the up-keep of which we were forced to pay nine-tenths of our monthly wage. On such mulctings Dearsley Sahib allowed us to make obeisance to him before the palanquin. What could we do? We were poor men. He took full half of our wages. Will the Government repay us those moneys?...'1889 December, Rudyard Kipling, “The Incarnation of Krishna Mulvaney”, in Macmillan's Magazine:
- The palanquin carries Pābūjī—and, according to the description on the par, he rides his mare mother on the palanquin...—towards Rāma's heaven.1999, Alf Hitlebeitel, Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits, page 110:
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Broadly Synonym of litter, any similar vehicle open or closed, human or animal-borne, particularly (historical) in colonial Asian contexts.
- ... but the cars of chaste women have either coverings thrown over them, or white sheets hung over; for instance, on the cars of the female part of the family of the deceased Nawabs Khanduran and Muzaffar Khan, there used generally to be fastened thick dirty white cloths, and in like manner also on their palanquins—although one brother was the chief treasurer, and the other a commander of seven thousand men. And most assuredly this is a requirement of modesty; for one whose palanquin or cart is turned out with much splendour, verily the idea comes to the minds of the sight-seers and common people, that in it there must be some lovely one, bright as the morning, the envy of the fairies. Hence, for the cars or palanquins for women to ride in to be greatly embroidered is, in the opinion of certain men of standing, who are worthy to be trusted, of great infamy.1871, Sher Ali Afsos, translated by Henry Court, The Araish-i-Mahfil, or, The Ornament of the Assembly, page 31:
- Behold his bed which is Solomon's. 'His bed' מִטָּתוֹ (mittatho)... The word here is generally understood to denote a palanquin or litter. Same as the 'chariot' in verse ninth... A royal bridal chariot or palanquin... A portable bed... A palanquin, sedan, or portable vehicle, in which Kings in the East used to be carried when on a long journey...1892, "Notes", "Homiletic Commentary on The Song of Solomon", The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary on the Old Testament..., p. 142
4 more examples
- This kogoshi, the simplest form of koshi palanquin, consists of a base with a raised railing and no roof.1991, Matthew Eynon, Palanquins, Procreative Power, and Politics: Case Studies of Nepal, Taiwan, and Japan, p. 316
- ... the fan-bearer shows that the bearers are those of the king's palanquin ...1992, Jocelyn Gohary et al., Akhenaten's Sed-Festival at Karnak, page 127:
- In his records, La Loubere, Franch^([sic – meaning French]) Ambassador to Thailand in the reign of King Narai, described the appearance of the royal palanquin in Ayutthaya. It should be noted that the palanquin he mentioned as having 4 to 8 porters were small and not too heavy. They were probably palanquin for the king, members of the royal family or noblemen and were used to attend unimportant ceremonies.1993, “Royal Palanquin”, in Heritage of Thai Culture, page 99:
- In addition, there is enough space for a young boy to ride in the palanquin with the chief. This boy is believed to carry the souls of the ancestors and of the people which are enshrined in the stool... Since the Oath commemorates the loss of the palanquin, the Gbi Traditional Area decided not to procure another palanquin for the Fiagā in replacement. The Fiagā of Gbi, therefore, does not have a palanquin and must never ride in one...2000, A. Kodzo Paaku Kludze, Chieftaincy in Ghana, pages 121-122:
- Hypernyms
- litter, sedan chair, lectica
- Coordinate terms
- chokey