punkah

American  

[puhng-kuh] / ˈpʌŋ kə /

Or punka

noun

1. (especially in India) a fan, especially a large, swinging, screenlike fan hung from the ceiling and moved by a servant or by machinery.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, used on, or working a punkah.

   punkah ropes.

Etymology

Origin of punkah

First recorded in 1615–25, punkah is from the Hindi word paṅkhā

Example Sentences

He is on all the first-night lists, Leon at L'Aperitif salutes him as 'Highness,' he is reputed to travel with his own linen sheets, punkah wavers, court chamberlains and sauce cooks .

From Time Magazine Archive

The section Punk, for example, lists 43 definitions of that word, and then goes on to define punkah, punkateero and punkatunk.

From Time Magazine Archive

Over his head waved a punkah, drawn by a white-clad woman disciple.

From Time Magazine Archive

There was no punkah, the glare of the lamplight was blinding, and the food—all of it—coarse, greasy and cold.

From From Jungle to Java The Trivial Impressions of a Short Excursion to Netherlands India by Keyser, Arthur Louis

I have long wished to see a punkah, now I wish I may never see another!

From From Edinburgh to India & Burmah by Burn Murdoch, W. G. (William Gordon)