subadar

American  

[soo-buh-dahr] / ˌsu bəˈdɑr /

Or subahdar

noun

1. a provincial governor of the Mogul empire.

2. the chief Indian officer of a company of troops in the British Indian Army.

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subadar British  

/ ˈsuːbəˌdɑː /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of subadar

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

Example Sentences

The subadar lay on his cot below, near the door, his brother, Angud Tewaree, slept on the upper story.

From A Journey through the Kingdom of Oude, Volumes I & II by Sleeman, William

The reply received was evidently not in favour of extreme measures for the strong arm of the British was notoriously far-reaching, and serious trouble might ensue if the subadar were killed.

From The Story of the Guides by Younghusband, G. J.

When they arrived at the huts, the subadar led the way in.

From Through Three Campaigns A Story of Chitral, Tirah and Ashanti by Paget, Walter

He was on the spot when his father died, while the new subadar was absent.

From With Clive in India Or, The Beginnings of an Empire by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

The escort consisted of an irregular regiment of Afghan infantry commanded by one Saleh Mahomed Khan, who when a subadar serving in one of the Shah's Afghan regiments had deserted to Dost Mahomed.

From The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80 by Forbes, Archibald