punkah

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi पंखा (paṅkhā, “fan”), from Sanskrit पक्षक (pakṣaka), from पक्ष (pakṣa, “wing”).

Pronunciation

Noun

punkah (plural punkahs)

  1. (South Asia, Myanmar) A fan, particularly a large fan made of leaf or cloth and hung from the ceiling, (historical) formerly often operated by a servant.
    • 1810, Thomas Williamson, East India Vade-Mecum..., page 313:
      A punkah is, by some, used instead of a chattah, (or umbrella); but it is very inferior as a defence against either sun, wind, or rain.
    • 1900, Joseph Conrad, chapter 4, in Lord Jim:
      Outside the court the sun blazed—within was the wind of great punkahs that made you shiver …
    • 1943 November and December, G. T. Porter, “The Lines Behind the Lines in Burma”, in Railway Magazine, page 325:
      In the refreshment room a few would-be passengers were cooled by the punkah, worked by a string tied to the big toe of a sleepy Burmese boy.
    • 1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:
      Perhaps it was a mistake to invite Mr Stanhope; the day was intolerably hot and humid; all he wanted to do was to lie on his bed with a punkah sighing over him, at least moving the unbreathable air.

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