The Kiplings and India: A Collection of Writings from British India, 1870-1900

havildar

(Hindustani) A sepoy non-commissioned officer, corresponding to a sergeant, and wearing the chevrons of a sergeant. This dating from about the middle of the 18th century is the only modern use of the term in that form. It is a corruption of Persian (Hobson-Jobson 412-3).

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