subadar

or su·bah·dar

[ soo-buh-dahr ]

noun

1. a provincial governor of the Mogul empire.
2. the chief Indian officer of a company of troops in the British Indian Army.

subadar

/ ˈsuːbəˌdɑː /

noun

1. (formerly) the chief native officer of a company of Indian soldiers in the British service Also calledsubah

Word History and Origins

Origin of subadar¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from Urdu, from Persian, equivalent to ṣūba “province” + dār “holding, holder”

Word History and Origins

Origin of subadar¹

C17: via Urdu from Persian, from sūba province + -dār holding

Example Sentences

Frank edged away and glanced at the speaker, whom he recognized instantly as a subadar in his own old regiment.

From Project Gutenberg

In each regiment the senior Indian officer is called ressaldar or subadar-major.

From Project Gutenberg

Turning to the Waziri subadar he continued: “Ahmed Khan is thy name?”

From Project Gutenberg

Looked as if the bloomin' hontray was with the Subadar, but the Hadendowas 'as the honour to hinvite sweet William!

From Project Gutenberg

Then spoke up a subadar of the Pioneers, a tall Sikh with his beard curled like the ancient Assyrians.

From Project Gutenberg