Palki
/ˈpɑːl.kiː/noun
A covered litter or sedan chair carried on poles, especially in South Asia.
Did you know?Palkis were used in South Asian weddings and royal processions, turning transport into a highly visible ritual display of status and ceremony.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
paryaṅka
“A couch, bed, or resting seat”
Middle Indo-Aryan
Prakrit
pallaṅka
“A couch or bed, preserving the Sanskrit sense”
Medieval period
Hindi
pālkī
“A covered litter or sedan chair carried by bearers”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
palanquim
“A litter or sedan chair, borrowed from South Asian usage”
17th Century
English
palanquin
“A covered litter carried on poles”
Modern English
English
palki
“A South Asian litter or ceremonial sedan chair”