purdah
Americannoun
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the seclusion of women from the sight of men or strangers, practiced by some Muslims and Hindus.
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a screen, curtain, or veil used for this purpose.
noun
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the custom in some Muslim and Hindu communities of keeping women in seclusion, with clothing that conceals them completely when they go out
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a screen in a Hindu house used to keep the women out of view
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a veil worn by Hindu women of high caste
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informal hiding or isolation
the Treasury is currently locked in pre-budget purdah
Etymology
Origin of purdah
1790–1800; < Hindi, Urdu pardah curtain < Persian
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.
It is startling to think that it is only eight months since Alonso was in purdah under Lampard and Chelsea was running the risk of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League.
From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2021
He said women should observe purdah - a term referring to women wearing modest clothes around men or segregation between sexes.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2021
The Cabinet Office declined to provide clarification of the purdah rules on Thursday but said Sedwill would respond to Corbyn in due course.
From The Guardian • Aug. 8, 2019
Nevertheless, purdah rules could limit the government's ability to make last-minute preparations for a no deal departure.
From BBC • Aug. 8, 2019
I had seen these women nearly every day of my life observing the code of purdah, where they cover themselves in public.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
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.
