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panchayat

[puh n-chah-yuh t]
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noun
  1. an elective village council in India.
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Origin of panchayat

First recorded in 1880–85, panchayat is from the Hindi word pañcāyat
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for panchayat

Historical Examples

  • How often is one informed, ‘with authority,’ that the panchayat of which we catch glimpses must be only a caste panchayat!

    The Political Future of India

    Lajpat Rai

  • Breaches of caste rules and customs are enquired into by a panchayat presided over by a headman called Kattemaniavaru.

  • The Panchayat is only a rough and ready way of settling disputes, or punishing minor offences.

    India and the Indians

    Edward F. Elwin

  • There is another reason why the Panchayat, as applied to Christian congregations, is not altogether wholesome.

    India and the Indians

    Edward F. Elwin

  • He however refused to accept the decision and said that he would go and find two people to represent him on the panchayat.

British Dictionary definitions for panchayat

Panchayat

noun
  1. a village council in India
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Word Origin

Hindi, from Sanskrit panch five, because such councils originally consisted of five members
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