durbar
Americannoun
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the court of an Indian ruler.
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a public audience or levee held by an Indian prince or by a British colonial governor or viceroy; an official reception.
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the hall or place where an Indian prince or British colonial governor holds a public audience.
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an audience held by an Indian prince or British colonial governor.
noun
Etymology
Origin of durbar
First recorded in 1600–10; alteration of Urdu darbār “court,” from Persian, equivalent to dar “door” + bār “entry”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Locals marvelled at this weekly durbar, where Ahmed, one ear pressed to his mobile phone and other taking in requests for constituency service, would mutter orders to his personal assistant or stenographer".
From BBC ● May 14, 2023
At a durbar, nothing quite prepares you for the riot of colours that adorn the gathering of chiefs all wearing kente.
From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2021
Instead of agreeing enthusiastically, as a maharajah in the 19th century would at Queen Victoria’s durbar, Modi wanted something in return.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 9, 2018
In the French television serial “Rani,” the opulence of Indian royalty and of the French 18th-century aristocracy are recreated with as much pomp as Chanel’s more exclusive durbar.
From New York Times ● Dec. 22, 2011
A durbar may be either a council for administering affairs of state, or a purely ceremonial gathering.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various
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