Word Study
purdah
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun purdah has 3 senses
- purdah(n = noun.state) solitude - a state of social isolation; Array is a kind of isolation
- purdah(n = noun.group) sex segregation - the traditional Hindu or Muslim system of keeping women secluded; Array is a kind of segregation, separatism
- purdah(n = noun.artifact) Array - a screen used in India to separate women from men or strangers; Array is a kind of screen
CIDE DICTIONARY
purdah, n. [Per. parda a curtain.].
A curtain or screen; also, a cotton fabric in blue and white stripes, used for curtains. McElrath. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
purdah, n. Ind.
1 a system in certain Muslim and Hindu societies of screening women from strangers by means of a veil or curtain.
2 a curtain in a house, used for this purpose.
1 a system in certain Muslim and Hindu societies of screening women from strangers by means of a veil or curtain.
2 a curtain in a house, used for this purpose.
Etymology
Urdu & Pers. pardah veil, curtain
For further exploring for "purdah" in Webster Dictionary Online
