havildar

/ˈhavɪldɑː/

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindustani حوالدار (ḥavāldār) / हविलदार (havildār), from Persian حوالدار (havâldâr), from Arabic حَوَالَة (ḥawāla, “charge”) + Persian دار (dâr, “holder”).

noun

  1. An noncommissioned officer rank in parts of India, later a specific military rank of the British Indian Army and of the modern armies of India and Pakistan, equivalent to sergeant.“‘There was a great fight,’ said the Havildar, ‘and of us no man escaped unhurt.’”