Reference for Indian words: http://www.authortrek.com/brick_lane_page.html
Reference for English words: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
-
paratha - Chapter One p. 8 – is a kind of bread
-
sadhus - Chapter One p. 13 – are holy beggars in Hinduism
-
Sylhetis – Chapter One p. 21 – Sylhet is a city in north east Bangladesh
-
purdah – Chapter One p. 22 – ‘screen’ or ‘veil’, the custom of Muslims and Hindus to hide women from public view by means of screens or veils
-
jackfruit – Chapter One p. 28 – is a species of tree of the mulberry family and itsfruit, native to southwestern India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Sri Lanka. It is well suited to tropical lowlands. It is commercially grown and sold in these countries. The English name jackfruit, one of many for the fruit, derives from Portuguese jaca, which is derived from Malayalam chakka. (see what one off these look like) –> “The jackfruit is still on the tree but already he is oiling his moustache” – Chanu
-
salaam – Chapter Two p. 37 – a respectful bowing gesture, extending ‘salaam’ (‘peace’)
-
palanquin - Chapter Two p. 40 – a covered chair on parallel poles that could be carried by two or four people
-
Kachuga Turtle – Chapter Three p. 42
-
muezzin – Chapter Three p. 43 – are those who call Muslims to pray from the mosque
-
maharanee - Chapter Three p. 46 – title given to the wife of the maharajah, or a high ranking Indian princess
-
dish = to give a lot of information about something or someone, especially something that would usually be secret or private
-
namaz = the five daily prayers for Muslims
-
imam = a Muslim religious leader or priest
-
salwaar kameez
-
in a sling –> sling = a piece of cloth tied around your neck to support an injured arm or hand
(She had her arm in a sling) -
(straight/right) from the horse’s mouth = you hear or get information straight from the horse’s mouth, you are told it by someone who has direct knowledge of it
-
stepladder = a ladder which has two sloping parts that are joined at the top so that it can stand without support, and which can be folded flat
-
gritty = showing determination and courage
-
winch = to lift something or someone up using a winch (= a machine with a rope or chain for lifting heavy objects)
-
goitre - Chapter Three p. 59 – a swelling of the thyroid gland on the neck
-
nengti – Chapter Three p. 64 some type of clothing ? probably a narrow length of cloth (nengta or nengti means naked)
-
fluff - soft light bits of thread that have come from wool, cotton, or other materials; soft light hair or feathers, especially on a young bird or animal (Chapter 4)
-
shondesh – Chapter Four p. 65 – delicacy of Bengal, a white colored dry sweet item made from chenna or casein; it is fluffy, mildly sweet and so soft that it virtually melts inside your mouth.
-
dig sth out – to find something you have not seen for a long time, or that is not easy to find
-
jute – Chapter Four p. 66 – strong plant fibre used for variety of products, such as the underlay of carpets. The processing of jute is a big industry in Bangladesh
-
“a virtuous circle” – Chapter Four p. 66 – a neat phrase from Chanu, and a very good way to start a critique of his loquaciousness
-
gnawing – worrying or painful, especially for a long time
