Vaishya

noun

Vaish·​ya ˈvīsh-yə How to pronounce Vaishya (audio) ˈvī-shə How to pronounce Vaishya (audio)
variants or Vaisya
: a Hindu of an upper caste traditionally assigned to commercial and agricultural occupations

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Sanskrit vaiśya, derivative of viś-, viṭ "settlement of a clan, tribe"; akin to Old Church Slavic vĭsĭ "village," Greek oîkos "dwelling, home" — more at vicinity

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Vaishya was in 1665

Dictionary Entries Near Vaishya

Vaishnavite

Vaishya

vaivode

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Vaishya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vaishya. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Vaishya

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