Chapter SAIVA to SALEMPOORY of S by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

SAIVA to SALEMPOORY

SAIVA, s. A worshipper of Siva; Skt. Saiva, adj., ‘belonging to Siva.’

1651.—“The second sect of the Bramins, ‘Seiviá’ … by name, say that a certain Eswara is the supreme among the gods, and that all the others are subject to him.”— Rogerius, 17.

1867.—“This temple is reckoned, I believe, the holiest shrine in India, at least among the Shaivites.”—Bp. Milman, in Memoirs, p. 48.

SALA, s. Hind. sala, ‘brother-in-law,’ i.e. wife’s brother; but used elliptically as a low term of abuse.

[1856.—“Another reason (for infanticide) is the blind pride which makes them hate that any man should call them sala, or Sussoor—brother-in-law, or father-in-law.” —Forbes, Ras Mala, ed. 1878, 616.]

1881.—“Another of these popular Paris sayings is ‘et ta sœur?’ which is as insulting a remark to a Parisian as the apparently harmless remark sala, ‘brother-in-law,’ is to a Hindoo.”—Sat. Rev., Sept. 10, 326.

SALAAM, s. A salutation; properly oral salutation of Mahommedans to each other. Arab. salam, ‘peace.’ Used for any act of salutation; or for ‘compliments.’

[c. 60 B.C.—

“ ’ [Greek Text] All’ ei men SuroV essi “Salam,” ei d’ oun su ge foinix
“NaidioV,” ei d’ “Ellhn “Caire”. to d’ auto frason.”

—Meleagros, in Anthologia Palatina, vii. 149.

The point is that he has been a bird of passage, and says good-bye now to his various resting-places in their own tongue.]

1513.—“The ambassador (of Bisnagar) entering the door of the chamber, the Governor rose from the chair on which he was seated, and stood up while the ambassador made him great calema.”—Correa, Lendas, II. i. 377. See also p. 431.

1552.—“The present having been seen he took the letter of the Governor, and read it to him, and having read it told him how the Governor sent him his calema, and was at his command with all his fleet, and with all the Portuguese. …”—Castanheda, iii. 445.

1611.—“Calema. The salutation of an inferior.”—Cobarruvias, Sp. Dict. s.v.

1626.—“Hee (Selim i.e. Ja hangir) turneth ouer his Beades, and saith so many words, to wit three thousand and two hundred, and then presenteth himself to the people to receive their salames or good morrow. …” —Purchas, Pilgrimage, 523.

1638.—“En entrant ils se salüent de leur Salom qu’ils accompagnent d’vne profonde inclination.”—Mandelslo, Paris, 1659, 223.

1648.—“… this salutation they call salam; and it is made with bending of the body, and laying of the right hand upon the head.”—Van Twist, 55.

1689.—“The Salem of the Religious Bramins, is to join their Hands together, and spreading them first, make a motion towards their Head, and then stretch them out.”—Ovington, 183.

1694.—“The Town Conicopolies, and chief inhabitants of Egmore, came to make their Salaam to the President.”—Wheeler, i. 281.

1717.—“I wish the Priests in Tranquebar a Thousand fold Schalam.”—Philipp’s Acct. 62.

1809.—“The old priest was at the door, and with his head uncovered, to make his salaams.”—Ld. Valentia, i. 273.

1813.—

“‘Ho! who art thou?’—‘This low salam Replies, of Moslem faith I am.’”

Byron, The Giaour.

1832.—“Il me rendit tous les salams que je fis autrefois au Grand Mogol.”— Jacquemont, Corresp. ii. 137.

1844.—“All chiefs who have made their salam are entitled to carry arms personally.”—G. O. of Sir C. Napier, 2.

SALAK, s. A singular-looking fruit, sold and eaten in the Malay regions, described in the quotation. It is the fruit of a species of ratan (Salacca edulis), of which the Malay name is rotan-salak.

1768–71.—“The salac (Calamus rotang zalacca) which is the fruit of a prickly bush, and has a singular appearance, being covered with scales, like those of a lizard; it is nutritious and well tasted, in flavour somewhat resembling a raspberry.”—Stavorinus, E.T. i. 241.