Khansama
/ˈkɑːn.sɑː.mɑː/noun
A household steward, butler, or cook, especially in South Asian usage.
Did you know?Khansama entered English through South Asian usage, ultimately from Persian elements, and it once referred to a high-ranking domestic steward rather than just a cook.
Etymological Timeline
Persian
fa
khān-sāmān
“household superintendent or steward”
Urdu/Hindustani
ur
khānsāmā
“a household steward, butler, or cook”
18th–19th Century
en
khansama
“a South Asian household servant, especially a steward or cook”
Modern English
en
khansama
“a household steward or cook, especially in South Asian contexts”