Chapter PULTUN to PUNCH of P by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

PULTUN to PUNCH

PULTUN, s. Hind. paltan, a corruption of Battalion, possibly with some confusion of platoon or péloton. The S. India form is pataulam, patalam. It is the usual native word for a regiment of native infantry; it is never applied to one of Europeans.

1800.—“All I can say is that I am ready primed, and that if all matters suit I shall go off with a dreadful explosion, and shall probably destroy some campoos and pultons which have been indiscreetly pushed across the Kistna.”—A. Wellesley to T. Munro, in Mem. of Munro, by Arbuthnot, lxix.

[1895.—“I know lots of Sahibs in a pultoon at Bareilly.”—Mrs Croker, Village Tales and Jungle Tragedies, 60.]

PULWAH, PULWAR, s. One of the native boats used on the rivers of Bengal, carrying some 12 to 15 tons. Hind. palwar. [For a drawing see Grierson, Bihar Village Life, p. 42.]

1735.—“… We observed a boat which had come out of Samboo river, making for Patna: the commandant detached two light pulwaars after her. …”—Holwell, Hist. Events, &c., i. 69.

[1767.—“… a Peon came twice to Noon-golah, to apply for polwars. …”—Verelst, View of Bengal, App. 197.]

1780.—“Besides this boat, a gentleman is generally attended by two others; a pulwah for the accommodation of the kitchen, and a smaller boat, a paunchway” (q.v.).—Hodges, p. 39.

1782.—“To be sold, Three New Dacca Pulwars, 60 feet long, with Houses in the middle of each.”—India Gazette, Aug. 31.

1824.—“The ghât offered a scene of bustle and vivacity which I by no means expected. There were so many budgerows and pulwars, that we had considerable difficulty to find a mooring place.”—Heber, ed. 1844, i. 131.

1860.—“The Pulwar is a smaller description of native travelling boat, of neater build, and less rusticity of character, sometimes used by a single traveller of humble means, and at others serves as cook-boat and accommodation for servants accompanying one of the large kind of boats. …”—Grant, Rural Life in Bengal, p. 7, with an illustration.

PULWAUN, s. P.—H. pahlwan, [which properly means ‘a native of ancient Persia’ (see PAHLAVI). Mr. Skeat notes that in Malay the word becomes pahlawan, probably from a confusion with Malay awan, ‘to fight’]. A champion; a professed wrestler or man of strength.

[1753.—“… the fourth, and least numerous of these bodies, were choice men of the Pehlevans. …”—Hanway, iii. 104.

[1813.—“When his body has by these means imbibed an additional portion of vigour, he is dignified by the appellation of Puhlwan.”—Broughton, Letters, ed. 1892, p. 165.]

1828.—“I added a pehlivân or prize-fighter, a negro whose teeth were filed into saws, of a temper as ferocious as his aspect, who could throw any man of his weight to the ground, carry a jackass, devour a sheep whole, eat fire, and make a fountain of his inside, so as to act as a spout.”—Hajji Baba in England, i. 15.

PUN, s. A certain number of cowries, generally 80; Hind. pana. (See under COWRY). The Skt. pana is ‘a stake played for a price, a sum,’ and hence both a coin (whence fanam, q.v.) and a certain amount of cowries.

1554.—“Pone.” (See under PORTO PIQUENO.)

1683.—“I was this day advised that Mr. Charnock putt off Mr. Ellis’s Cowries at 34 pund to ye Rupee in payment of all ye Peons and Servants of the Factory, whereas 38 punds are really bought by him for a Rupee. …”—Hedges, Diary, Oct. 2; [Hak. Soc. i. 122].

1760.—“We now take into consideration the relief of the menial servants of this Settlement, respecting the exorbitant price of labor exacted from them by tailors, washermen, and barbers, which appear in near a quadruple (pro)portion compared with the prices paid in 1755. Agreed, that after the 1st of April they be regulated as follows:

“No tailor to demand for making:
1 Jamma, more than 3 annas.

* * * * *

1 pair of drawers, 7 pun of cowries.
No washerman:
1 corge of pieces, 7 pun of cowries.

No barber for shaving a single person, more than 7 gundas” (see COWRY).—Ft. William Consns., March 27, in Long, 209.