Zamindar
/ˌzæmɪnˈdɑːr/noun
A landholder or revenue-collecting landlord, especially in historical South Asia.
Did you know?The land-root in zamīn is related to ancient Indo-European words behind “human,” “humus,” and “chthonic,” all linked to the earth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰéǵʰōm
“Earth or ground; the ancient root associated with the earth and with human beings as earth-dwellers.”
Old Iranian
Proto-Iranian
*zam-
“Earth or land.”
Middle Persian
Middle Persian
zamīg
“Earth, land, or territory.”
Medieval Persian
Persian
zamīn
“Land, ground, or territory.”
Medieval Persian
Persian
dār
“Holder or possessor, from a verb meaning to hold or possess.”
16th Century onward
Persian/Hindustani
zamīndār
“Landholder; a person responsible for collecting land revenue.”
Modern English
English
zamindar
“A historical South Asian landlord or land-revenue collector.”