ANGLO-INDIAN WORDS

Amri
from Amri, town in Sind province, Pakistan, its type station, of or belonging to
the earliest known stone-using and shell-using culture of the Indus river system
which extends also into the Sind and southern Baluchistan and is characterized
by a distinctive pottery. [1]
Avatar 
from Avatar means incarnation

Bandanna 
from Bandhna,( lucknavi ) to tie a scarf around the head.
Bangle 
from Bāngṛī बांगड़ी, a type of bracelet.
Barisal guns
from Barisal, town in Bangladesh. Brontides heard near the town of Barisal on a
mouth of the Ganges. [2]
brahmin  
member of Hindu caste; traditional priest
Bungalow
from banglA & Urdu banglA, literally, "(house) in the Bengal style". [3]

Calico 
from calicut, meaning "a coarse cotton cloth with a bright printed pattern".
Cheesey 
from ceez, meaning "thing." [ultimately from Persian ‫]چیز‬
Cheetah 
from cītā, चीता, meaning "variegated body."
Chit 
from Chitthi, a letter or note.
Chittagong wood
from Chittagong, city in Bangladesh. The wood of either of two Indian trees
(Chukrasia tabularis and Toona ciliata) of the family Meliaceae used for its
mahoganylike qualities in cabinetwork. [4]
Chutney 
from chatni, "to crush"
Cot 
from Khāt, खाट, a portable bed.
Cummerbund 
from kamarband , cf. Hindi कमरबन्द - Urdu ‫کمربند‬, meaning "waist binding"
[ultimately from Persian ‫]کمربند‬
Cushy
from khushi, cf. Hindi ख़ुशी - Urdu ‫" خوشی‬easy, happy, soft" [ultimately from
Persian]

Dacoit 
from Dakait, meaning a member of a class of criminals who engage in organized
robbery and murder.
Dekko 
from Dekho, the imperitive 'look', meaning look at or study something "Take
away dekko", "take a look"
Dharma 
from Dharma, meaning righteous duty.
Doolally 
from Deolali, a hospital in Maharashtra, India. It means having an unbalanced
state of mind.
Flora 
Latin cognate of Fulora, meaning Flowering or arrangement of flowers.

Garam Masala
from Hindi and Urdu garam masala, literally, "hot spices". [5]
Guru 
from Guru, A teacher, instructor, intellectual or spiritual guide or leader, any
person who counsels or advises; mentor. e.g. "The elder senator was her political
guru."
Gymkhana 
A term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place and
referred to any of various meets at which contests were held to test the skill of
the competitors. In English-speaking countries, a gymkhana refers to a multi-
game equestrian event performed to display the training and talents of horses
and their rider [-khana from Pers. khānah ‫" خانه‬house, dwelling"]

Jaconet
modification of Urdu jagannathi, from Jagannath (Puri), [India], where such cloth
was first made. [6]
Jhukar
from Jhukar, Sind, Pakistan, where artifacts were found. Of or relating to a
culture of the Indus valley about 2500 B.C. and later that is known from
settlements built upon those of Harappa and is characterized by buildings
inferior to Harappa and round crudely decorated seals or seal amulets of pottery.
[7]

Jinnah cap
 after Pakistani statesman Muhammad Ali Jinnah died in 1948. A hat shaped like a
fez but made of real or imitation karakul and worn by Pakistani Muslims on
occasion.[8] It is called a "Karakulli topi" (Topi meaning cap).
Juggernaut 
from Jagannath. Comes from the tradition of pulling the "Jagannath Rath"
(Chariot) at Puri, Orrisa.
Jungle 
from jangal, another word for wilderness or forest.

Karma 
from Karma , meaning acts or deeds.
Khaki
from khākī "of dust colour, dusty, grey", cf. Hindi ख़ाकी - Urdu ‫[ خاکی‬ultimately
from Persian].
Kulli
from Kulli, locality in southern Baluchistan, Pakistan, site of the finds. Of or
relating to a prehistoric culture of southern Baluchistan characterized by
polychrome vases and small objects modeled in clay. [9]

Loot 
from Lūta लूट, meaning loot.

Mug, Mugger 
street robber, from Magar, meaning crocodile.
Multan
from Multan, Pakistan. A kind of rug prevalent in Multan. [10]

Paki
short for Pakistani. [11]
Pakistani
from Hindustani Pakistan. [12]
Poori
from Urdu puri, from Sanskrit pura "cake". [13]
Pukka 
from Pakkā पक्का, cooked, ripe, solid.
Pundit 
from Pandit, meaning a learned scholar or Priest.

Q
Quetta
from Quetta, town in Baluchistan, Pakistan. Of or belonging to a culture of
northern Baluchistan of about the fourth millennium B.C. characterized by
pottery decorated in geometric designs. [14]

Raita
from Hindi & Urdu rayta. [15]
Rangpur
from Rangpur, town and region in Bangladesh. Any of various mandarin oranges
with sour highly acid fruits. [16]
Roti
from Hindi & Urdu roti "bread"; akin to Prakrit rotta "rice flour", Sanskrit rotika
"kind of bread". [17]

Sahiwal
from Sahiwal, town in western Pakistan. An Indian breed of humped short-
horned solid-colored dairy cattle. [18]
Sentry 
from Santri, an armed guard.
Shampoo 
from chāmpo (चाँपो /tʃã ːpoː/) is the imperative of chāmpnā (चाँपना /tʃã ːpnaː/),
"to smear, knead the muscles, massage" (the scalp massage with some kind of
oily or treacly mixture just before a bath).

Teapoy 
from Tipaya, a three legged stool.
Tharparkar
from Thar and Parkar, district in Pakistan. An Indian breed of pale gray humped
dairy cattle with lyrate horns. [19]
Thug 
from Thag ठग, meaning thief or conman.
Toddy 
from Tārī ताड़ी, juice of the palmyra palm.

Philosophical and Learned Terms

Aryan - A member of the people who spoke the parent language of the Indo-European
languages. In Nazism, a Caucasian Gentile, especially Nordic type.
Of or relating to Indo-Iranian languages.
Sanskrit arya - noble
chakra - One of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the human body according to
yoga philosophy.
Sanskrit chakram - wheel, circle

dharma - A Buddhist principle and ultimate truth. Social custom and right behavior.
Hindu moral law.
Hindi dharma, from Sanskrit

Guru - A teacher and a guide in spiritual and philosophical matters. A mentor. A

recognized leader in a field. "Fitness Guru"
Hindi/Punjab - guru (teacher), from Sanskrit guruh -weighty, heavy, grave

Juggernaut - Something, such as a belief or an institution, that elicits blind and

destructive devotion or to which people are ruthlessly sacrificed.
An overwhelming, advancing force that crushes or seem to crush everything in its path.
The name of the Hindu deity Krishna - Juggernath
Hindi Jaganath - Lord Krishna, from Sanskrit jaganatha : jagath -moving/the world +
nathah - Lord/God

Mandala - Any of various ritualistic geometric designs symbolic of the universe, used in
Hinduism and Buddhism, as an aid to meditation.
Tamil mutalai - ball, from Sanskrit mandalam - circle

Nirvana - In Buddhism, the ineffable ultimate in which one has attained disinterested
wisdom and compassion. A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire
now sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma. It represents the
final goal in Buddhism.
A state of perfect happiness.
From Sanskrit nirvana, nirva -be extinguished + nis -out + va - to blow

Pariah - A social outcast. An Untouchable.

Tamil pariah - caste name which means 'hereditary drummer'. The caste system in India
placed pariahs or untouchables very low in society. First recorded in English in 1613.

Pundit - A learned person. A source of opinion. A critic. "a political pundit"

Hindi pandit - a learned man, from Sanskrit panditah - learned scholar, perhaps from
Dravidian origin.
Purdah - A curtain or screen, used mainly in India to keep women separated from men
or strangers. The Hindu or Muslim system of sex segregation, practiced especially by
women in seclusion.
Social seclusion: 'artists living in luxurious purdah'
Urdu/Persian paradah - veil, curtain. pan-around, over + da- to place

Sati (suttee) - the former Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her
husbands funeral pyre.
Hindi sati, from Sanskrit meaning 'faithful wife'
This practice was banned in India in the early 20th century, when the British ruled over
India. However it continues even today, in under developed states and rural villages,
such as Bihar (a state in North India)
Sutra - a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature or a set of these grammar or Hindu law
or philosophy.
In Buddhism - A scriptural narrative, especially a text traditionally regarded as a
discourse of the Buddha.
Sanskrit - sutram, tread, string

Kamasutra - A Sanskrit treatise setting forth rules for sexual, sensuous and sensual
love, and marriage: in accordance with Hindu law, made popular today by Western
marital therapists and psychologists.
Sanskrit - Kamasutram: kamah - love, sutram - thread, string, manual

Swastika - The emblem of the Nazi Germany, officially adopted in 1935. In Buddhism
and Hinduism, a religious symbol representing noble qualities and good luck.
An ancient cosmic symbol formed by a Greek cross with ends of the arms bent at right
angles either clockwise or a counterclockwise direction.
Sanskrit svastika - sign of good luck: Svast - well being

Yoga - A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which includes breath control,
simple meditation and the adoption of specific body postures widely practiced for
relaxation.
Sanskrit, literally meaning 'union', referring to the union of the mind, body and spirit.

Clothes, Clothing and Fashion

Bandana (bandanna) - A large handkerchief usually figured and brightly colored.

Portuguese from, Hindi bandhunu (tie dyeing) and bandhana (to tie): from Sanskrit
bhandhana tying.
This word was probably absorbed to Portuguese, when the Portuguese ruled over Goa,
Bombay during the early part of the 17th century, and from Portuguese was absorbed to
English.

Bindi - A dot marked on the forehead, by Hindu wives, and sometimes men, to adorn or
as a sign of the third eye - wisdom or God Shiva.
From Hindi bindi. Made famous in the West by pop music singers.

Bangle - A rigid bracelet or anklet, especially one with no clasp. An ornament that hangs
from a bracelet or necklace.
Hindi bungri - glass

Cashmere - Fine downy wool growing in the outer hair of the cashmere goat. A soft
fabric made out of this wool or similar fibres. Named after the state of Kashmir in India,
where these goats were found in abundance, and famous for woolen clothing during the
British Raj.

Chintz - A printed and glazed cotton fabric, usually of bright colors.

Cotton cloth, especially plain white or unbleached.
Hindi chint, from Sanskrit citra - shiny, variegated
Cummerbund - A broad sash, especially one that is pleated lengthwise & worn as an
article of formal dress, as with dinner jacket.
Hindi & Urdu - kamarband, from Persian kamar- waist + bandi- band
The sash was formally worn in the Indian subcontinent by domestic workers and low
status office workers.

Dhoti - A loincloth worn by Hindu men in India. The cotton fabric used for such
loincloths.
From Hindi dhoti

Dungaree - A sturdy, often blue, denim fabric. Trousers or overalls made of sturdy
denim fabric.
Hindi dumgri - hard/coarse.

Gunny - A coarse, heavy fabric made of jute or hemp, used especially for bags or sacks.
Hindi ghoni - sack, from Sanskrit gharati-sack

Jute - Either of 2 plants yielding a fiber used for sacking and cordage.
Bengali jhuto, from Sanskrit jutah - twisted hair, probably of Dravidian origin.

Jodhpurs - Long riding breeches, tight from the knee to ankle, named after the ancient
city, Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan in North India. Men in this state wear trousers
akin to riding breeches, hence the name 'jodhpurs'.

Khaki - A light olive brown to moderate or light yellowish brown. A sturdy cloth of this
color. Khakis - trousers made from this cloth.
Urdu khaki - dusty or dust colored, from Persian khak - dust

Musk- A strong smelling reddish brown substance which is secreted by the male musk-
deer for scent making, which is also an important ingredient in perfumery.
From Late Latin miscus, from Persian musk, from Sanskrit muska (scrotum)

Pajamas/pyjama - A lose fitting garment consisting of trousers and a jacket, worn for
sleeping or lounging, often used in plural.
Hindi paijama - loose fitting trousers, from Persian pai- leg + jamah - garment

Sari - A garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately run around the body,
worn by women in the Indian subcontinent. It has 6 yards of material, with 1.5 yards
hanging from one shoulder down to the ground, intricately woven with bright or
contrasting colors.
From Hindi sari

Shampoo - A liquid preparation containing soap for washing hair.

Hindi campoo - press.

Words related to Food

Curry - A heavily spiced sauce or relish made with curry powder and eaten with rice,
meat, fish or other food.
A dish seasoned with curry powder - a mixture of various spices.
Tamil - kari

Ginger - Mid E gingiveri from Old E gingifer, from Old French gingivre, from Med Latin-
gingiber, from Latin zungiberi, from Greek - zingiberis from Pali singieram, from
Dravidian (similar to Tamil) inciver, inci - ginger + ver- root.

Ghee - A clarified, semi-fluid butter used especially in Indian cooking

Hindi ghi, from Sanskrit gharati - sprinkles.

Kebab - Dish of small pieces of meat and/or vegetables, cooked on skewers

Urdu/Persian kabab - roasted meat.

Kedgeree - A dish of rice, fish, hard-boiled eggs, often served for breakfast. In North
India kedgeree refers to a mixture of rice cooked with butter and dhal, with spices and
shredded onions.
Hindi kedegree - butter rice

Mango - A fleshy yellowish-red tropical fruit, which is eaten ripe or used green for
pickels. From Portuguese manga, from Malay manga, from Tamil manaky which means
mango tree fruit.

Animal Names

Mongoose - Any of various Old World carnivorous mammals having agile body and a
long tail and noted for the ability to seize and kill venomous snakes.
Marathi mangus, of Dravidian origin.

Anaconda - A large non-venomous arboreal snake of tropical South America that kills
its prey by suffocating in its coils.
Alteration of Sinhalese henakandaya - whip snake.

Cheetah - A long-legged, swift running wild cat of Africa and Southwest Asia, having
black-spotted, tawny fur and non-retractile claws.
The fastest animal on land can run for short distances at about 96kn (60 miles) per
hour.
Hindi cita, from Sanskrit citrakaya - tiger/leopard: Citra- variegated + kaya - body

Miscellaneous

Bungalow - A small house or cottage usually having a single story and sometimes as
additional attic story. A thatched or tiled one-story house in India surrounded by a wide
veranda.
Hindi bangala, Bengali bungalow, Gujarati bangalo
Bazaar - A market consisting of a street lined with shops and stalls especially one in the
Middle East. A fair or sale at which miscellaneous articles are sold, often for charitable
purposes.
Italian bazaro, and Urdu bazaar, both from Persian.

Catamaran - A boat with two parallel hulls or floats, especially a light sailboat with a
mast mounted on a transverse frame joining the hulls: A raft of logs or floats lashed
together and propelled by a paddles or sails.
Tamil kattumaram: kattu- to tie + maram- wood flog: tied wood

Cheroot (sheroot) - A cigar with square cut ends

French cheroute, from Tamil curuttu/churuttu/shuruttu - roll of tobacco
This word would have been absorbed into the French language during the early 16th
century, when French were trying to get a foot hold in South India (Hyderabad), and
from French would have come into English.

Coir - Fiber from the outer husk of the coconut, used in potting compost and for making
ropes and matting.
Origin from Malayalam kayaru - cord

Coolie - (coolly) Offensive. An unskilled Asian laborer

Hindi and Telegu: kuli - day laborer, perhaps from kuli - a tribe in Gujarat or Urdu kuli -
slave
A person from the Indian subcontinent: a person of Indian descent (Offensive)

Dinghy - A small open boat carried as a tender, lifeboat, or pleasure craft on a larger
boat" A small rowboat. An inflatable rubber life raft.
Hindi - dimgi, variant of demgi - float, raft
The 'gh' in English serves to indicate the hard 'g'

Gymkhana - Any of various meets at which contests are held to test the skill of the
competitors, as in equestrian ship, gymnastics or sports car racing.
Probably alteration (influenced by gymnastics) fromHindi gend-khana - race court:
gend- ball + khana - house

Indigo - A tropical plant of the pea family, which was formerly widely cultivated as a
source of dark blue dye.
The dark blue dye obtained from this plant
A color between blue and violet in the spectrum
From Portuguese indigo, via Latin, from Greek Indikon, from India, the River Iindus

Loot (n) - Valuables pillaged in time of war: spoils

Stolen goods: Goods illicitly obtained as by bribery.
Loot (v) To pillage, spoil
Hindi lut, from Sanskrit loptrum/lotrum - plunder

Palanquin (palankeen) - A covered litter carried on poles on the shoulders of two or

four men, formerly used in Eastern Asia.
Portuguese - palanquim, from Javanese pelangki, from Pali pallanko, from Sanskrit
paryankah - couch, bed

Polo - A game resembling hockey, played on horse back with a long handled clubs and a
wooden ball. An ancient game of the East still played in upper Indus valley (extreme
West of the Himalayas). Introduced first at Calcutta and a little later in Punjab and
played first in England in 1871.
From Balti language (a Tibeto- Burman language) meaning ball

Teak - hard durable timbre used in shipbuilding and for making furniture. The large
deciduous tree native to India and South East Asia, which yields this timber.
From Portuguese teca, from Tamil Tamil/Malayalam tekka

Others

 Atoll from Malayalam or Divehi - ring of coral enclosing a lagoon

 Bandicoot, from pandikoku (Telugu)
 Bungalow from Bungla (Hindustani) (lit. a house in the Bengal style) - a large
house, typically with a sloping, tiled roof
 Calico, from Calicut, a town and district of Kerala, (Malayalam)
 Coir, from kayar (Malayalam), from kayaru (Tamil)
 Copra, from Khobra (Marathi), from koppara (Malayalam), from kopparai (Tamil)
 Dhole, from tOla (Kannada)
 Doolally, "mad, insane" from the town of Deolali, where British officers were said
to develop a strange mental illness
 Jute (Bengali)
 Mongoose, from mungeesa (Telugu) or mungusi (Kannada)
 Pajamas (Hindustani)
 Polo (Balti)
 Tourmaline, from tōramallī (Sinhala) - cornelian, tourmaline

List of English words of Sanskrit origin

A
Aditya
from Sanskrit āditya, the Vedic sun god. [1]
Agni 
from Sanskrit Agnih, which means "fire". [2]
Ahimsa 
from Sanskrit ahimsā, which means "not-harmful". [3]
Ambarella 
through Sinhalese ultimately from Sanskrit, a kind of tree. [4]
Amrita 
from Sanskrit amrtam, nectar of everlasting life. [5]
Aniline 
through German, French and Portuguese from Arabic al-nili, ultimately from
Sanskrit nili. [6]
Annapurna 
from Sanskrit, consort of Shiva and an aspect of Devi. [7]
Arya 
from Sanskrit ārya. [8]
Aryan 
from Latin Ariana, from Greek Aria, ultimately from Sanskrit Arya-s "noble,
honorable". [9]
Asana 
from Sanskrit āsanam which means "seat", a term describing yoga postures. [10]
Ashram 
ultimately from Sanskrit āsramah, a religious hermitage. [11]
Asura 
from Sanskrit a-sura, which means "negation of sura [god]", ie someone who
have demonish qualities or someone who is against God. [12] "Sura" in Sanskrit
also means liquor / alcoholic drink. A-sura means the one who does not drink
liquor.
Atoll 
through Maldivean probably ultimately from Sanskrit antala. [13]
Aubergine 
from Catalan alberginera, via Arabic (al-badinjan) and Persian (badin-gan)
ultimately from Sanskrit vātinganah. [14]
Avatar 
from Sanskrit avatarana, which means "descent". [15]
Ayurveda 
from Sanskrit āyurvedah, which means "knowledge of life". [16]

Bandana 
from Hindi bandhnu, ultimately from Sanskrit badhnati, "binds". [17]
Banyan 
from Sanskrit vanija, which means "a merchant". [18]
Basmati 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit vāsah. [19]
Bahuvrihi 
from Sanskrit bahuvrīhih, a composite word. [20]
Beryl 
from Old French beryl, via Latin, Greek and Prakrit (veruliya) ultimately from
Sanskrit vaidurya-, of Dravidian origin, maybe from the name of Belur. [21]
Bhagavad-Gita 
from Sanskrit, which means "song of the sublime". [22]
Bhagavata 
from Sanskrit, one loyal to Bhagavat. [23]
Bhakti 
from Sanskrit bhakti, which means "loyalty". [24]
Bhang 
from Hindi bhang, which is from Sanskrit bhangah "hemp". [25]
Bharata 
from Sanskrit bhārata. [26]
Bidi 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit vītikam. [27]
Brahma 
from Sanskrit brahmā, which means "a prayer". [28]
Brahman 
from Sanskrit brāhmana. [29]
Brahmin 
from Sanskrit brahmana-s, from brahman. [30]
Brinjal 
from Persian badingān, probably from Sanskrit vātingana. [31]
Buddha 
from Sanskrit buddha, which means "awakened, enligtened", refers to Siddhartha
Gautama, founder of Buddhism[32] Also refers to one who is enlightened in
accordance with the teachings of Buddha or a likeness of Buddha[33]

Candy 
from Old French sucre candi, via Arabic and Persian probably ultimately from
Sanskrit khanda "sugar", perhaps from Dravidian. [34]
Carmine 
from French carmin, via Middle Latin from Arabic qirmiz "crimson", which is
from Sanskrit krimiga. [35]
Cash 
from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kAcu, which is from Sanskrit karsha, a weight
of gold or silver. This is the proper noun related with the miscellaneous coins of
small value, common noun "cash" is not of Sanskrit origin. [36]
Cashmere 
from Kashmir, the Himalayan region where this wool is from. [37]
Chador 
through Urdu and Persian ultimately from Sanskrit chattram. [38]
Chakra 
from Sanskrit cakra, which means "a circle, a wheel". [39]
Champac 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit campaka, an evergreen tree. [40]
Cheetah 
from Hindi chita "a leopard", from Sanskrit chitraka, which means "speckled". [41]
Chintz 
from Hindi chint, which is from Sanskrit chitra-s "clear, bright". [42]
Chit 
from Hindi chitthi "a letter, note", which is from Sanskrit chitra-s "uniquely
marked". [43]
Chuddar 
through Urdu ultimately from Sanskrit chattram. [44]
Chukar 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit cakorah. [45]
Chukker 
from Hindi chakkar, from Sanskrit cakra, "a circle, a wheel". [46]
Citipati 
 from Sanskrit citi-pati, which means "a funeral pyre lord". [47]
Cot 
from Hindi khat "a couch", which is from Sanskrit khatva. [48]
Cowrie 
from Hindi and Urdu kauri, which is from Sanskrit kaparda, probably related to
Tamil. [49]
Crimson 
from Old Spanish cremesin, via Middle Latin from Arabic qirmiz "a kermes",
which is ultimately from Sanskrit krmi-ja. [50]

Dahl 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit dalah, meaning cotyledon of a pea pod, a
type of Indian food, also refers to lentil in the US. [51]
Das 
from Sanskrit daasa, a slave or servant. [52]
Datura 
through Latin and Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit dhattūrāh, a kind of flowering
plant. [53]
Deodar 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit devadāru, a kind of tree. [54]
Deva, Diva 
from Sanskrit deva, which means "a god", akin to Latin deus, "god". Diva means
day like in divakara, sun who makes the day.[55]
Devi 
from Sanskrit devi, which means "a goddess". [56]
Dharma 
from Sanskrit, which means "law, justice". [57]
Dhoti 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit dhūnoti, traditional garment of men's
wear in India. [58]
Dinghy 
from Hindi dingi "a tiny boat", probably from Sanskrit drona-m. [59]

Emerald 
from Latin smaragdus, via Greek ultimately from Semitic or from Sanskrit
marakata, "emerald". [60][61]

Falafel 
from Arabic, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit pippalī. [62]

Ganesh 
 via Hindi Gaŋeś ultimately from Sanskrit Gaŋeśa. [63]
Ganja 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit gāñjyā, which means "of hemp". [64]
Gaur 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit gaurah. [65]
Gavial 
through French and Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit ghantikah, a kind of
crocodile. [66]
Gayal 
perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit gauh via Bengali, a kind of animal. [67]
Gharry 
perhaps finally from Sanskrit gartah via Hindi, a kind of vehicle. [68]
Ghee 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit ghritam. [69]
Ginger 
from Middle Latin gingiber via Latin and Greek from Prakrit singabera, ultimately
from Sanskrit srngaveram, which means "body of a horn", perhaps a Sanskrit folk
etymology, an ancient Dravidian etymology is probable. [70]
Guar 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit gopālī, an annual legume. [71]
Gunny 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit goni "sack". [72]
Gupta 
from Sanskrit goptri, the name of a Hindu dynasty. [73]
Gurkha 
via Nepalese ultimately from Sanskrit goraksah, "a cowherd". [74]
Guru 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit guru-s, which means "a teacher". [75]

Hanuman 
through Hindi from Sanskrit Hanuman, a kind of small monkey, Hindu
mythological God. [76]
Hare Krishna 
from Sanskrit Hare and Krishna. [77]
Himalaya 
from Sanskrit himalayah, which means "place of snow". [78]
Hindi 
from Hindi Hind, via Persian Hindu "Sind" ultimately from Sanskrit sindhu, which
means "a river". [79]
Hindu 
via Persian Hindu ultimately from Sanskrit sindhu, which means "a river". [80]

Indra 
a prominent Vedic god, in charge of rain and thunder.
indra ia a god of rain and thunder like seyus . He is the leader of all gods like
air(vaayu),water(varuna),fire(agni) lives in devalookam(swargam,heven). [81]

Jackal 
from Turkish çakal, from Persian shaghal, from Middle Indic shagal, ultimately
from Sanskrit srgalah "the howler". [82]
Jaggery 
via Portuguese perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit sarkara. [83]
Jain or Jaina 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit jaina, which means "concerning the
saints". [84]
Jungle 
through Hindi jangal "a desert, forest" ultimately from Sanskrit jangala-s, which
means "arid". [85]
Juggernaut 
through Hindi jagannath ultimately from Sanskrit jagat-natha-s, which means
"lord of the world". [86]
Jute 
via Bengali jhuto ultimately from Sanskrit juta-s, which means "twisted hair". [87]

Kali 
from Sanskrit kali. [88]
Kama Sutra 
from Sanskrit Kāma Sutra, which means kāma "desire" and sutra. [89]
Karma 
from Sanskrit karman, which means "work, fate". [90]
Kedgeree 
probably ultimately from Sanskrit krśarah. [91]
Kermes 
perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit via French and Arabic. [92]
Kos 
through Hindi kos ultimately from Sanskrit krosah, which means "a call, a shout".
[93]

Krait 
through Hindi probably ultimately from Sanskrit, a kind of snake. [94]
Krishna 
from Sanskrit krshnah, which means "black one", an avatar of Vishnu. [95] Krishna
is the Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom all other avataras emanate.
[96]

Khaki Hindi meaning 'of the dust'

Lac 
 through Persian and Hindi lakh from Prakrit lakkha, ultimately from Sanskrit
laksha. [97]
Lacquer 
through French and Portuguese from Arabic lakk, via Prakrit ultimately from
Sanskrit laksha. [98]
Langur 
through Hindi probably ultimately from Sanskrit langūlam. [99]
Lilac 
via Arabic lilak from Persian nilak meaning "bluish", ultimately from Sanskrit
nila, which means "dark blue". [100]
Loot 
ultimately from Sanskrit lota-m through Hindi, which means "a booty, stolen
thing". [101]

Mahabharata 
from Sanskrit Mahābhāratam, great story of the Bhā ratas. [102]
Maharajah 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit maha-rājān, which means "a great king".
[103]

Maharani 
through Hindi finally from Sanskrit mahārājnī, which means "consort of a
maharajah". [104]
Maharishi 
from Sanskrit maha-rishi, which means "a great sage". [105]
Mahatma 
from Sanskrit mahatman, which means "a great breath, soul". [106]
Mahayana 
from Sanskrit maha-yana, which means "a great vehicle". [107]
Mahout 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit mahāmātrah. [108]
Mandala 
from Sanskrit mandala, which means "a disc, circle". [109]
Mandarin 
via Malay and Hindi mantri "a councillor" ultimately from Sanskrit mantri, which
means "an advisor". [110]
Mantra 
from Sanskrit mantra-s which means "a holy message or text". [111]
Maratha 
from Sanskrit Maharastra, which means "a great country". [112]
Marut 
from Sanskrit, a group of storm gods, sons of Rudra. [113]
Maya 
from Sanskrit māyā, a religious term related with illusion. [114]
Meerkat 
from Dutch meerkat, or probably through Hindi markat ultimately from Sanskrit
markata meaning "an ape". [115]
Mitra 
 from Sanskrit Mitrah, which means "a friend". [116]
Moksha 
from Sanskrit moksha, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. [117]
Mugger 
via Hindi and Urdu ultimately from Sanskrit makara, like a crocodile, which
attacks stealthily. [118]
Mung bean 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit mudgah, a kind of bean. [119]
Musk 
via Late Latin and Late Greek moskhos from Persian mushk, ultimately from
Sanskrit muska-s meaning "a testicle". [120]
Mynah 
through Hindi maina ultimately from Sanskrit madana-s, which means "love". [121]

Nainsook 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit nayanam-sukh, a kind of fabric. [122]
Namaste 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit namas-te, which means "bowing to you".
[123]

Nard 
through Old French and Latin from Greek nardos, perhaps ultimately from
Sanskrit naladam. [124]
Narghile 
through French and Persian nārghīleh ultimately from Sanskrit nārikelah. [125]
Nark 
probably from Romany nak "a nose", via Hindi nak ultimately from Sanskrit
nakra. [126]
Neem 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit nimbah, a kind of tree. [127]
Nilgai 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit nīla-gauh, an ox-like animal. [128]
Nirvana 
from Sanskrit nirvana-s which means "extinction, blowing out". [129]

Opal 
through Latin from Greek, probably ultimately from Sanskrit upalah. [130]
Orange 
through Old French orenge, Middle Latin orenge and Italian arancia from Arabic
naranj, via Persian narang and Sanskrit naranga-s meaning "an orange tree",
ultimately from Tamil aru and anju meaning six and five, referring to the eleven
segments of the orange's fruit. [131]

Raga 
 via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rāgah, melodic modes used in Indian classical
music. [132]
Raita 
ultimately from Sanskrit via Hindi rāytā, a south Asian condiment and side dish
made of yogurt and vegetables. [133]
Raj 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rājā, which means "a king". Raj means
kingdom or domain of a ruler. [134]
Rajah 
through Hindi from Sanskrit rājān, which means "a king". [135]
Rama 
from Sanskrit Ramah, which means "pretty". [136]
Ramayana 
from Sanskrit Rāmāyanam, which means "the gait of Rama". [137]
Ramtil 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rāmatilah, which means "a dark sesame".
[138]

Rani 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rājnī, consort of a rajah. [139]
Rice 
via Old French and Italian from Latin oriza, which is from Greek oryza, through
an Indo-Iranian tongue finally from Sanskrit vrihi-s "rice", Tamil origin is also
possible.[140] Tamil word is "arisi".[citation needed]
Rigveda 
from Sanskrit rigveda, which means "knowledge of praise". [141]
Rudra 
from Sanskrit, father of the storm gods. [142]
Rupee 
through Hindi rupiyā ultimately from Sanskrit rūpyakam, an Indian silver coin.
[143]

Rye 
via Romani from Sanskrit rājā, rye is used to define a gypsy person. [144]

Saccharo- 
via Latin and Greek from Pali sakkharā, ultimately from Sanskrit sarkarā. [145]
Sadhu 
ultimately from Sanskrit sādhu. [146]
Samadhi 
from Sanskrit samadhi, which means "putting together". [147]
Sambal 
through Malay and Tamil ultimately from Sanskrit sambhārei. [148]
Sambar 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit śambarah, a kind of Asian deer. [149]
Samsara 
from Sanskrit samsAra, which means "passing through". [150]
Sandal 
 via Old French and Arabic ultimately from Sanskrit candanam, this is the word
sandalwood, not related to sandals which is a type of footwear. [151]
Sandhi 
ultimately from Sanskrit samdhih, a wide variety of phonological processes. [152]
Sangha 
from Sanskrit saṅgha, a community of Buddhist monks and nuns. [153]
Sanskrit 
from Sanskrit samskrtam "put together, well-formed". [154]
Sapphire 
via Latin sapphirus and Greek sappheiros from a Semitic tongue, but probably
finally from Sanskrit sanipriya. [155]
Sarasvati 
from Sanskrit Sarasvati, name of a holy stream. [156]
Sari 
through Hindi sari and Prakrit sadi, finally from Sanskrit sati "garment". [157]
Satyagraha 
from Sanskrit satyagraha, which means "insisting on truth". [158]
Sattva 
from Sanskrit sattvah, which means "truth". [159]
Shaman 
through Russian from Tungus shaman, perhaps from Chinese sha men, via
Prakrit finally from Sanskrit sramana-s "a Buddhist monk". [160]
Shampoo 
via Hindi champo probably from Sanskrit capayati, which means "kneads". [161]
Shawl 
from Persian shal, finally from Sanskrit satI, which means "a strip of cloth". [162]
Shiva or Siva 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit Sivah, which means "gracious". [163]
Siddha 
from Sanskrit siddhah, which means "achieved, accomplished". [164]
Sikh 
through Hindi sikh "a disciple", ultimately from Sanskrit siksati which means
"studies". [165]
Singh 
via Hindi Singh finally from Sanskrit simhah which means "a lion". [166]
Singapore 
via Malay ultimately from Sanskrit Simhapuram, literally "the lion city". [167]
Sinhala 
from Sanskrit Simhala which means "Sri Lanka". [168]
Sinhalese 
from Sanskrit simhala which means "of lions". [169]
Stupa 
from Sanskrit stūpah which means "crown of the head". [170]
Sudra 
from Sanskrit śūdrah. [171]
Sugar 
through Middle Latin succarum, Arabic sukkar and Persian shakar ultimately
from Sanskrit sharkara which means "sugar". [172]
Sulfur 
 from Latin sulfur, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit sulvari. [173][174][175]
Sunn 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit sāna, a kind of Asian plant. [176]
Sutra 
from Sanskrit sutram which means "a rule". [177]
Suttee 
through Hindi finally from Sanskrit sati, which means "an honorable woman". [178]
Swami 
through Hindi swami ultimately from Sanskrit svami, which means "a master".
[179]

Swastika 
from Sanskrit svastika, which means "one associated with well-being, a lucky
charm". [180]

Taka 
via Bengali from Sanskrit tankah. [181]
Talipot 
through Hindi from Sanskrit tālapattram, a kind of tree. [182]
Tendu 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit tainduka. [183]
Tantra 
from Sanskrit tantram, which means "weave". [184]
Thug 
through Marathi and Hindi thag probably ultimately from Sanskrit sthaga, which
means "a scoundrel". [185]
Til 
from Sanskrit tilah, a kind of plant. [186]
Toddy 
through Hindi tari ultimately from Sanskrit tala-s, a Dravidian origin is also
probable. [187]
Tola 
via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit tulā, a traditional Indian unit of mass. [188]
Toon 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit tunnah, a kind of tree. [189]
Tope 
through Hindi probably from Prakrit thūpo, finally from Sanskrit stūpah. [190]
Tussah 
through Hindi finally from Sanskrit tasaram, a large moth. [191]
Tutty 
through Old French, Arabic and Persian ultimately from Sanskrit tuttham, a
Dravidian origin is also probable. [192]

Varuna 
from Sanskrit varunah, the lord of oceans. [193]
Veda 
 from Sanskrit veda, which means "knowledge, holy book". [194]
Vimana 
from Sanskrit vimana meaning plane, also referred to the top of the temple
tower, sanctum santorum. [195]
Vina 
ultimately from Sanskrit through Hindi, a kind of instrument. [196]
Vishnu 
from Sanskrit Vishnu, a chief Hindu deity. [197]
Vritra 
a snake-demon and the leader of the Danavas. [198]

Veranda : A verandah or veranda is a roofed opened gallery or porch वरण्डः. [199]

Wanderoo 
through Sinhalese finally from Sanskrit vānarah, a kind of monkey. [200]
Wat 
via Thai ultimately from Sanskrit vātah. [201]

Yoga 
through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit yoga-s, which means "yoke, union". [202]
Yogi 
through Hindi yogi from Sanskrit yoga, one who practices yoga or ascetic. [203]

Zen 
through Japanese and Chinese ch'an ultimately from Sanskrit dhyana, which
means "a meditation". [204]

Words of Tamil origin borrowed directly from Tamil

The following words were directly borrowed from Tamil:

appam 
from Tamil appam (Source: OED)
cash 
The primary meaning of the word cash, paper money, or money in general,
comes from Latin capsa, chest. A secondary meaning of cash, referring to any of
various coins used in southern India and China, comes ultimately from Tamil
காசு kācu (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)
catamaran 
 from Tamil கட்டுமரம் kaṭṭumaram("kattu"=tied up, "maram"=wood) (Source:
OED, AHD, MWD)
cheroot 
from French cheroute, from Tamil சுருட்டு curuṭṭu, roll or rolled (Source: OED,
AHD, MWD)
corundum 
from a Tamil word for 'ruby', குருந்தம் kuruntam or குருவிந்தம் kuruvintam
(Source: OED)
coir 
from the Tamil word kayaru for rope or thread or to be twisted. (Source: The
American Heritage Dictionary)
curry 
from Tamil கறி kaṟi, sauce (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)
godown 
from கிடங்கு kidangu/kodangu a Tamil word for store room (Source: OED)
illupi 
from Tamil iluppai (Source: OED)
kabadi/kabaddi 
from Tamil kabadi (Source: OED)
Maldivian 
from Tamil malaidhivu("malai"=mountain, "theevu"=island), (Source: OED)
Moringa 
from முருங்கை murungai , a Tamil word for drumstick (Source: OED, AHD)
mulligatawny 
from Tamil மிளகுத்தண்ண ீர் miḷaku-taṇṇīr from miḷaku black pepper taṇṇīr,
water (Source: OED, AHD, MWD)
nadaswaram/nagaswaram 
from Tamil nagasvaram (Source: OED)
pariah 
from Tamil பறையர் paṟaiyar , plural of பறையன் paṟaiyaṉ (Source: OED,
AHD, MWD)
pandal 
from Tamil pandal (Source: OED)
pongal 
from Tamil pongal
poonga oil 
from Tamil punku, oil from pungam tree (Source: OED)
poppadom 
from அப்பளம் appalam a Tamil word for a crispy side dish (Source: OED)
portia tree 
from Tamil puvaracu (Source: OED)
sambar 
from Tamil sambar (Source: OED)
sangam 
from Tamil sancam, (Source: OED)
Tamil 
from Tamil Tamizh
tutenag 
from Tamil tuttunagam (Source: OED)
vetiver 
from Tamil vettiver; a tropical Indian grass; Botanical name: Vetiveria
zizanioides; its aromatic roots are used for weaving screens and baskets and the
oil in perfumery (source: AHD)
Anicut 
from Tamil Anaikattu
Tope 
from Tamil thoppu A grove or group of trees
Chutney
sauce made by blending the ingredients (Source: Webster's Dictionary)

Words of Tamil origin borrowed from Malayalam

Malayalam is a language which derived parts from Tamil and Sanskrit about 1000 years
ago. The following English words of Tamil origin were borrowed from Malayalam.

betel 
from Malayalam vettila; Tamil vettrilei: "vettru"=plant name + "ilei"=leaf,
(Source: OED)
copra 
from the Malayalam word koppara, coconut kernel or Tamil கொப்பரை
kopparai / கொப்பறா koppara or Telugu word kobbera(Source: OED, AHD,
MWD)
Malayalam 
from Malayalam Malayalam, from Tamil malai, mountain, ala, people, and the
appendix -am (Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam)
mango 
from Portuguese manga, from Malayalam manga, from Tamil mangaai:
"ma/mang"=plant name + "kaai"=fruit.
teak 
from Malayalam thekku, from Tamil thekku
coir 
from Malayalam kayar, from Tamil kayaru