purdah
or pur·da, par·dah
[pur-duh]
- the seclusion of women from the sight of men or strangers, practiced by some Muslims and Hindus.
- a screen, curtain, or veil used for this purpose.
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Origin of purdah
1790–1800; < Hindi, Urdu pardah curtain < Persian
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for purda
Historical Examples
The women do not appear at the feast but stay inside, sitting in the angan or inner court, which is behind the purda.
Another story says that the Kammas and Velamas were originally one caste, and had adopted the Muhammadan system of gosha or purda.
On drawing aside the purda, I beheld the whole establishment seated in full conclave on their haunches round the door.
purdah
purda
- the custom in some Muslim and Hindu communities of keeping women in seclusion, with clothing that conceals them completely when they go out
- a screen in a Hindu house used to keep the women out of view
- a veil worn by Hindu women of high caste
- informal hiding or isolationthe Treasury is currently locked in pre-budget purdah
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Word Origin
C19: from Hindi parda veil, from Persian pardah
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for purda
purdah
n.
1800, from Urdu and Persian pardah "veil, curtain," from Old Persian pari "around, over" (from PIE *per- (1); see per-) + da- "to place", from PIE *dhe- "to set, put" (see factitious).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper