pukka
Americanadjective
adjective
-
properly or perfectly done, constructed, etc
a pukka road
-
genuine
pukka sahib
Etymology
Origin of pukka
First recorded in 1690–1700, pukka is from the Hindi word pakkā cooked, ripe, mature
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.
Ms Barrie says she grew up in a "pukka Anglo-Indian home", listening to country music stars Merle Haggard and Buck Owens and relishing meat ball curry, coconut rice and devil chutney.
From BBC • Feb. 19, 2023
“Your opinion on every subject … is dictated for you by the pukka sahibs code,” in which you too are complicit so that “your whole life is a life of lies.”
From Slate • Jun. 30, 2020
John Mayer is that insufferable bro — you know, the one who wears a pukka bead necklace, is always shirtless, toting around a guitar at that house party you didn’t want to go to, anyway.
From Salon • Aug. 18, 2015
The pukka Englishman in Arab dress developed highly successful tactics of hit and run, using a small, mobile force, in what would now be called asymmetrical warfare.
From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2010
“What,” asked Dr. Constantine with interest, “does a pukka sahib mean?”
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
