pukka

or puck·a

[ puhk-uh ]

adjective

, Indian English.

1. genuine, reliable, or good; proper.

pukka

/ ˈpʌkə /

adjective

1. properly or perfectly done, constructed, etc

   a pukka road

2. genuine

   pukka sahib

Word History and Origins

Origin of pukka¹

First recorded in 1690–1700, pukka is from the Hindi word pakkā cooked, ripe, mature

Word History and Origins

Origin of pukka¹

C17: from Hindi pakkā firm, from Sanskrit pakva

Example Sentences

If they were pukka Prayer Books I'd borrow one and try to read it.

From Project Gutenberg

So I leaned over, broke the news to a pukka Boy who was aloft with me, and told him to sing it out.

From Project Gutenberg

They had begotten "Pukka" Cunningham, who had hacked the name deeper yet in the crisscrossed annals of a land of war.

From Project Gutenberg

I gave the old fellow a pukka rupee, for which liberal donation the pair pretended to offer up prayers on my behalf.

From Project Gutenberg

They dwelt forcibly on his giving them five rupees, backsheesh—pukka rupees, too.

From Project Gutenberg