jemadar

[ jem-uh-dahr ]

noun

1. any of various government officials.
2. the supervisor of a staff of servants.
3. an officer in a sepoy regiment, corresponding in rank to a lieutenant.

jemadar

/ ˈdʒɛməˌdɑː /

noun

1. a native junior officer belonging to a locally raised regiment serving as mercenaries in India, esp with the British Army (until 1947)
2. an officer in the Indian police

Word History and Origins

Origin of jemadar¹

1755–65; < Urdu jamadar, variant of jamdar < Persian < Arabic jamʿ aggregation + Persian dār holding, leader of

Word History and Origins

Origin of jemadar¹

C18: from Urdu jama `dār, from Persian jama `at body of men + dār having

Example Sentences

Then summoning a smart young jemadar with whom he had talked a good deal during the journey, he asked him to read the chit.

From Project Gutenberg

The Jemadar fell beneath my own handkerchief, and a few shrieks and groans told the rest—all had died.

From Project Gutenberg

Late at night we rose on them, killed some, and the rest ran away, among them the cowardly Jemadar.

From Project Gutenberg

The worst of all was, however, that there were two young girls of a marriageable age, the daughters of the Jemadar.

From Project Gutenberg

The Jemadar was awarded seven years' transportation, and the eighteen deserters terms varying from ten years to one year.

From Project Gutenberg