Gurkha

[ gur-kuh, goor- ]

/ ˈgɜr kə, ˈgʊər- /

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noun, plural Gur·khas, (especially collectively) Gur·kha.

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

a Nepalese soldier in the British or Indian army.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Gurkha

First recorded in 1805–15

Words nearby Gurkha

gurgitation, gurgle, gurglet, Gurindji, gurjun, Gurkha, Gurkhali, Gurmukhi, gurn, gurnard, gurney

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Gurkha in a sentence

Not even a Gurkha or a Hindu can now travel in Tibet without especial permission.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin
Its duty was to go forward and make connection with the Scotch and Gurkha troops with which it was brigaded.
Soldier Stories|Rudyard Kipling
The Gurkha rear-companies tripped and blundered over loose stones.
Soldier Stories|Rudyard Kipling
There were a thousand dusky natives hemming in but fifty Gurkha soldiers and one British officer.
The Great Airship.|F. S. Brereton

"A force of Gurkha soldiers held up in the hills, sir," he told Joe.
The Great Airship.|F. S. Brereton

British Dictionary definitions for Gurkha

Gurkha

/ (ˈɡʊəkɑː, ˈɡɜːkə) /

noun plural -khas or -kha

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

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012