Glossary of Terms
Akbarnama: Book of Akbar, one of the great Mughal Emperors.
Atishbaz: Caste-workers who manufacture firearms and cannon.
Begum: Princess.
Begum Sahib: Princess of princesses.
Betel: A leaf containing stimulants that is consumed in southeast asia, noted for causing staining of the teeth in regular users.
Caravanserai: Way station on a caravan route. Often paid for out of royal coffers.
Chakram: Sharpened throwing rings of thin steel hurled like a frisbee off the fingers.
Dastak: A scepter, specifically a symbol of diplomatic status and protection of the sovereign.
Deccan: Plateau in north-central India.
Diwan: Royally-appointed manager for some specific trade or bureaucratic entity .
Diwan-i-Khas: Hall of public audience.
Diwan-i-Am: Hall of private audience.
Ferenghi: Foreigner, usually European.
Firman: Written permission or order. Necessary for trade.
Qalam: Writing instrument.
Gaz: Distance, much like a cubit or yard.
Howdah: Passenger compartment on an elephant, sometimes enclosed.
Jagir: Income property rights, not usually overseen in person by the holder, a Jagirdir.
Jagirdir: Holder of a jagir.
Jali: Ornate stone or wooden screens to preserve purdah.
Julabmost: Nonalcoholic fruit drink.
Jizya: Muslim tax on non-believers.
Katar: Triangular double-bladed punch dagger often used in the off hand.
Khan-i-Saman: Manager of a harem’s dealing with the outside world, usually a eunuch.
Kharkhanas: Craftsmen collected by a royal, the produce of which finance many things.
Kos: Length of distance equivalent to approximately 2.25 miles.
Maghrib: Afternoon prayers for muslims.
Mahout: Elephant handler and trainer.
Mansab: A set of jagirs, often scattered throughout the empire.
Mansabdar: A holder of mansab.
Mihmandar: Person responsible for the upkeep, care, and security of an envoy visiting the Mughal court.
Nizam: Mughal title for foreign princes and sultans—a way to avoid admitting in writing that another could hold the title of sultan.
Nökör: Personal guard of a prince.
Pulu: Polo.
Purdah: Separation of women from men in accordance with cultural and religious norms.
Shehzadi: Princess.
Shehzada: Prince.
Sowar: Cavalry trooper. Also: one of two rankings in the Emperor’s court, this one denoting how many actual sowar were paid for out of the rank-granter’s treasury. Inspections were common.
Sultan: King.
Sultan Al’Azam: High Sultan, the emperor’s honorific.
Umara: Nobles of the court.
Wazir: First advisor, minister.
Zamburak: Camel gun, small cannon like a swivel gun aboard western ships.
Zamburakchi: Camel gunners.
Zamind: Land rights to a settled region.
Zamindar: Recipient of land rights to a region, usually resided in or on and defended by the Zamindar himself.
Zat: Courtly rank, strictly a sign of the emperor’s favor, compensated with cash allowances and jagirs, but no troops.