woordie major

English

Etymology

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

woordie major (plural woordie majors)

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

Alternative forms

• wurdee major

References

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