Chapter POOJAREE to POPPER-CAKE of P by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

POOJAREE to POPPER-CAKE

POOJAREE, s. Hind. pujari. An officiating priest in an idol temple.

1702.—“L’office de poujari ou de Prêtresse de la Reine mère était incompatible avec le titre de servante du Seigneur.”—Lett. Edif. xi. 111.

[1891.—“Then the Pujari, or priest, takes the Bhuta sword and bell in his hands. …”—Monier-Williams, Brahmanism and Hinduism, 4th ed. 249.]

POOL, s. P.—H. pul, ‘a bridge.’ Used in two of the quotations under the next article for ‘embankment.’

[1812.—“The bridge is thrown over the river … it is called the Pool Khan. …”—Morier, Journey through Persia, 124.]

POOLBUNDY, s. P.—H. pulbandi, ‘Securing of bridges or embankments.’ A name formerly given in Bengal to a civil department in charge of the embankments. Also sometimes used improperly for the embankment itself. [1765.—“Deduct Poolbundy advanced for repairs of dykes, roads, &c.”—Verelst, View of Bengal, App. 213.

[c. 1781.—“Pay your constant devoirs to Marian Allypore, or sell yourself soul and body to Poolbundy.”—Ext. from Hicky’s Gazette, in Busteed, Echoes of Old Calcutta, 3rd ed. 178. This refers to Impey, who was called by this name in allusion to a lucrative contract given to his relative, a Mr. Fraser.]

1786.—“That the Superintendent of Poolbundy Repairs, after an accurate and diligent survey of the bunds and pools, and the provincial Council of Burdwan … had delivered it as their opinion. …”—Articles of Charge against Warren Hastings, in Burke, vii. 98.

1802.—“The Collector of Midnapore has directed his attention to the subject of poolbundy, and in a very ample report to the Board of Revenue, has described certain abuses and oppressions, consisting chiefly of pressing ryots to work on the pools, which call aloud for a remedy.”—Fifth Report, App. p. 558.

1810.—“… the whole is obliged to be preserved from inundation by an embankment called the pool bandy, maintained at a very great and regular expense.”—Williamson, V. M., ii. 365.

POON, PEON, &c., s. Can. ponne, [Mal. punna, Skt. punnaga]. A timber tree (Calophyllum inophyllum, L.) which grows in the forests of Canara, &c., and which was formerly used for masts, whence also called mast-wood. [Linschoten refers to this tree, but not by name (Hak. Soc. i. 67).]

[1727.—“… good Poon-masts, stronger but heavier than Firr.”—A. Hamilton, ed. 1744, i. 267.

[1776.—“… Pohoon-masts, chiefly from the Malabar coast.”—Grose, 2nd ed. ii. 109.]

[1773.—“Poon tree … the wood light but tolerably strong; it is frequently used for masts, but unless great care be taken to keep the wet from the ends of it, it soon rots.”—Ives, 460.]

1835.—“Peon, or Puna … the largest sort is of a light, bright colour, and may be had at Mangalore, from the forests of Corumcul in Canara, where it grows to a length of 150 feet. At Mangalore I procured a tree of this sort that would have made a foremast for the Leander, 60-gun ship, in one piece, for 1300 Rupees.”—Edye, in J. R. As. Soc. ii. 354.

POONAMALEE, n.p. A town, and formerly a military station, in the Chingleput Dist. of Madras Presidency, 13 miles west of Madras. The name is given in the Imp. Gazetteer as Punamallu (?), and Ponda malai, whilst Col. Branfill gives it as “Puntha malli for Puvirunthamalli,” without further explanation. [The Madras Gloss. gives Tam. Pundamalli, ‘town of the jasmine-creeper,’ which is largely grown there for the supply of the Madras markets.

[1876.—“The dog, a small piebald cur, with a short tail, not unlike the ‘Poonamallee terrier,’ which the British soldier is wont to manufacture from Pariah dogs for ‘Griffins’ with sporting proclivities, was brought up for inspection.”—McMahon, Karens of the Golden Chersonese, 236.]

POONGEE, PHOONGY, s. The name most commonly given to the Buddhist religieux in British Burma. The word (p’hun-gyi) signifies ‘great glory.’ 1782.—“… leurs Prêtres … sont moins instruits que les Brames, et portent le nom de Ponguis.”—Sonnerat, ii. 301.

1795.—“From the many convents in the neighbourhood of Rangoon, the number of Rhahans and Phongis must be very considerable; I was told it exceeded 1500.”—Symes, Embassy to Ava, 210.

1834.—“The Talapoins are called by the Burmese Phonghis, which term means great glory, or Rahans, which means perfect.”—Bp. Bigandet, in J. Ind. Archip.