zamindar

[zə mēn′där′]

noun

Historical in India,

a collector of the revenue from land
a landholder; specif., under British rule, an aristocratic landowner with extensive holdings

Origin: Hindi zamīndār, an occupant of land, landholder < Pers < zamīn, land, earth + -dār, holding

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

also zem·in·dar

noun

An official in precolonial India assigned to collect the land taxes of his district.
A landholder in British colonial India responsible for collecting and paying to the government the taxes on the land under his jurisdiction.

Origin: Hindi zamīndār, from Persian : zamīn, earth; see dhghem- in Indo-European roots + -dār, -holder; see dher- in Indo-European roots.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

How would you define this word? Add your helpful comment.