Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A Dalit.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun belongs to lowest social and ritual class in India

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Sanskrit harijanaḥ, person of Hari, child of God (coined as a euphemism for Untouchable by Mohandas K. Gandhi in 1931) : Hariḥ, Hari, a name for Vishnu; see Hare Krishna + janaḥ, person, child; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]

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