Palankeen
/ˌpæl.ənˈkiːn/noun
A covered litter or sedan chair carried by bearers, formerly used in parts of Asia and by Europeans in colonial settings.
Did you know?The English word entered through South Asian colonial contact, ultimately tracing back to a Sanskrit term for a couch or bed, showing how elite transport words can travel with empire.
Etymological Timeline
Sanskrit
SA
paryaṅka
“a bed, couch, or lounge”
Portuguese
PT
palanquim
“a covered litter or sedan chair”
Spanish
ES
palanquín
“a litter or sedan chair”
16th-17th Century
EN
palankeen
“a covered chair or litter carried by bearers”
Modern English
EN
palankeen
“a covered litter or sedan chair”