Gurkha

[gur-kuh, goor-]

noun

plural

Gurkhas ,

plural

Gurkha .

1. a member of a Rajput people, Hindu in religion, who achieved dominion over Nepal in the 18th century.

2. a Nepalese soldier in the British or Indian army.

Gurkha

/ ˈɡɜːkə, ˈɡʊəkɑː /

noun

1. a member of a Hindu people, descended from Brahmins and Rajputs, living chiefly in Nepal, where they achieved dominance after being driven from India by the Muslims

2. a member of this people serving as a soldier in the Indian or British army

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gurkha¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

In addition to this, 32,000 famed Gurkha soldiers of Nepal serve in the Indian army under a decades-old special agreement.

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British, Gurkha, Indian and African troops decisively halted the offensive into India.

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He also served as a lieutenant in the Gurkha Rifles, fighting in the Malayan Emergency, a communist-inspired revolt against the British colonial authorities.

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For centuries, Nepali nationals were recruited by the British army to fight as famed Gurkha soldiers and later by India when it gained independence from Britain.

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Mr Purja, who served with the Gurkhas and the Special Boat Service, landed safely and was found "on his knees crying" by Spanish officials, the inquest was told.

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