Chapter HACKERY to HADGEE of H by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

Ahsham (see EYSHAM), or infantry, artillery, and artificers on the other, stood the Ahadi, or gentleman trooper. The word is literally ‘single’ or ‘alone’ (A. ahad, ‘one’). It is easy to see why this name was applied to them; they offered their services singly, they did not attach themselves to any chief, thus forming a class apart from the tabinan; but as they were horsemen, they stood equally apart from the specialised services included under the remaining head of Ahsham.” (J. R. As. Soc., July 1896, p. 545.)

[c. 1590.—“Some soldiers are placed under the care and guidance of one commander. They are called Ahadis, because they are fit for a harmonious unity.”—Ain, ed. Blochmann, i. 231.

[1616.—“The Prince’s Haddy…betrayed me.”—Sir T. Roe, Hak. Soc. ii. 383.

[1617.—“A Haddey of horse sent down to see it effected.”—Ibid. ii. 450.

[c. 1625.—“The day after, one of the King’s Haddys finding the same.”—Coryat, in Purchas, i. 600.]

HADGEE, s. Ar. Hajj, a pilgrim to Mecca; from hajj, the pilgrimage, or visit to a venerated spot. Hence Hajji and Haji used colloquially in Persian and Turkish. Prof. Robertson Smith writes: “There is current confusion about the word hajj. It is originally the participle of hajj, ‘he went on the hajj.’ But in modern use hajij is used as part., and hajj is the title given to one who has made the pilgrimage. When this is prefixed to a name, the double j cannot be pronounced without inserting a short vowel and the a is shortened; thus you say ‘el-Hajjê Soleiman,’ or the like. The incorrect form Hajji is however used by Turks and Persians.”

[1609.—“Upon your order, if Hoghee Careen so please, I purpose to delve him 25 pigs of lead.”—Danvers, Letters, i. 26.

[c. 1610.—“Those who have been to Arabia…are called Agy.”—Pyrard de Laval, Hak. Soc. i. 165.

[c. 1665.—“Aureng - Zebe once observed perhaps by way of joke, that Sultan Sujah was become at last an Agy or pilgrim.”—Bernier, ed. Constable, 113.

[1673.—“Hodge, a Pilgrimage to Mecca.” (See under A MUCK.)

[1683.—“Hodgee Sophee Caun.” See under FIRMAUN.]

1765.—“Hodgee acquired this title from his having in his early years made a pilgrimage to Hodge (or the tomb of Mahommed at Mecca).”—Holwell, Hist. Events, &c., i. 59.

[c. 1833.—“The very word in Hebrew Khog, which means ‘festival,’ originally meant ‘pilgrimage,’ and corresponds with what the Arabs call hatch.…”—Travels of Dr. Wolff, ii. 155.]