Nair

[ nahyer, nahy-er ]

noun

, plural Nair, Nairs.

1. a group of Hindu castes in the Kerala region of India.
2. a member of any one of these castes.

adjective

1. of or relating to this group of castes or their members.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nair¹

1580–85; < Portuguese naire < Malayalam nāyar members of ruling caste < Sanskrit nāya to lead

Example Sentences

Winning filmmaker Julia Bacha—along with Danny Glover and Mira Nair—on why film is a powerful instrument for change.

From The Daily Beast

“The pain of that is just deep,” says Mira Nair, director of films including Salaam Bombay!

From The Daily Beast

A smattering of big-name folks turned up, including Martin Scorsese, Robert DeNiro and Mira Nair.

From The Daily Beast

Just as he was about to set off a large boat came to the ship, bringing an officer of the King, called a Nair.

From Project Gutenberg

He argues however on a later page153 that Nair polyandry, which is more properly termed promiscuity, is group marriage.

From Project Gutenberg

Cornely, there won't never be no mo'—there'll be nair another baby to you, honey.

From Project Gutenberg

A Nair woman is no more likely to overstep the mores of her society than an English woman is to overstep the mores of hers.

From Project Gutenberg

And likewise as regards the nair women and the peasant women: these practices are more observed in the country.

From Project Gutenberg