Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The highest non-commissioned officer in a native regiment in India; a sepoy sergeant. The term is adopted in the British Indian army for a native sergeant.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun In the British Indian armies, a noncommissioned officer of native soldiers, corresponding to a sergeant.
- noun a native sergeant major in the East Indian army.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A military rank of the British Indian Army and of the modern armies of India and Pakistan, equivalent to
sergeant .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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But Speedy swore by them, and to my gratification their havildar was a leathery veteran from the Mogala country who claimed to remember “Bloody Lance ", as he addressed me, pouring out the old tale of how Ifflass-mann slaughtered the four Gilzais — so much lying tommy-rot, you understand, but I dare say I could still dine out on it in the caravanserais along the Jugdulluk road.
Flashman on the March Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 2005
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The havildar came out of the dark, with two troopers behind him.
Fiancée 2010
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While the drum beat slowly, a havildar and two naiks went along the ranks of the prisoners, tearing the buttons off the uniform coats; they had been half cut off before-hand, to make the tearing easy, and soon in front of the long grey line there were little scattered piles of buttons, gleaming dully in the sultry light; the grey coats hung loose, like sacks, each with a dull black face above it.
Fiancée 2010
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Then I made him lick the blood off the blade, spat in his face, and respectfully asked the havildar what I should do next.
Fiancée 2010
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"Sher Khan, havildar, * (* Sergeant.) lately of Ismeet Sahib's company of the Guides,7 as your honour says," croaks he.
Fiancée 2010
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You have seen the havildar-major, a soldier of high caste, take the cartridge.
Fiancée 2010
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Whiting swore, and struggled with him, but the mutineer - a big, black-moustached havildar with a Chillianwallah medal - threw him down and wrested his musket away.
Fiancée 2010
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Then they helped me down, and sponged my head and gave me a drink, and their havildar says:
Fiancée 2010
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What happened was that the havildar-major came along the rank, with two naiks carrying big bags of cartridges, of which he offered three to each skirmisher.
Fiancée 2010
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Look at the havildar-major - look at Makarram Khan!
Fiancée 2010
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