Showing 1 to 100 of 116.
- ACHARA spicy and salty pickle in Indian cuisine.
- AFGHANIThe monetary currency of Afghanistan, divided into 100 pul.
- AMBERAmbergris, the waxy product of the sperm whale. Formerly thought to be the product of a plant.
- ATOLLA type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform.
- AZUREThe clear blue colour of the sky; also, a pigment or dye of this colour.
- AZURITEA blue vitreous mineral; a basic hydrated copper carbonate, with the chemical formula Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, used since antiquity as a blue pigment or ores to extract metallic copper.
- BACHAA dancing boy in parts of Central Asia.
- BAGHA type of enclosed garden common in south and south-eastern Asia.
- BAHADURA warrior, especially a Turko-Mongol.
- BALASA type of rose-coloured spinel once thought to be a form of ruby.
- BANDARIA kind of rhythmic dance music originating from the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf.
- BEGARA system of forced labour in parts of India.
- BEGARSA system of forced labour in parts of India.
- BEZOARA mass, usually of hair or undigested vegetable matter, found in a human or animal's intestines, similar to a hairball.
- BIRYANIA spiced dish of rice, blended with meat and/or vegetables.
- BORAXA white or gray/grey crystalline salt, found in nature as a mineral, with a slight alkaline taste, used as a flux, in soldering metals, making enamels, fixing colors/colours on por
- BULGURWheat grains that have been steamed, dried, and crushed; a staple of Middle Eastern cooking.
- BUZKASHIA team sport originating in Central Asia, where the players, all on horseback, try to place an animal carcass into a goal.
- CARAVANA convoy or procession of travellers, their cargo and vehicles, and any pack animals, especially camels crossing a desert.
- CARBOYA large, rigid bottle, originally made of glass and mainly used for fermentation, and now commonly made of plastic and used to store liquids.
- CARMINEA purplish-red pigment, made from dye obtained from the cochineal beetle; carminic acid or any of its derivatives.
- CAVIARRoe of the sturgeon or of certain other large fish, considered a delicacy. A food preparation made through the spherification of a flavorful liquid, resulting in small roe-like bal
- CHABUKA long whip formerly used as an instrument of punishment in India and parts of the Middle East.
- CHANGA traditional harp of central and southwest Asia
- CHESSA board game for two players, each beginning with sixteen chess pieces moving according to fixed rules across a chessboard with the objective to checkmate the opposing king.
- CHINASynonym of porcelain, a hard white translucent ceramic made from kaolin, now sometimes distinguished in reference to tableware as fine or good china.
- CRIMSONA deep, slightly bluish red.
- CUSHYMaking few demands; comfortable, easy.
- DARICA gold coin from Persian Empire, introduced by Darius the Great (522-486 BC) and used until Alexander the Great's invasion (330 BC).
- DEWANA holder of any of various offices in various (usually Islamic) countries, usually some sort of councillor.
- DIVANA Muslim council of state, specifically that of viziers of the Ottoman Empire that discussed and recommended new laws and law changes to a higher authority (the sultan).
- DIXIEA large iron pot, used in the army.
- DURBARA ceremonial gathering held by a ruler in India.
- FIRMANa royal decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, especially by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
- GENIZAHA depository where sacred Hebrew books or other sacred items that by Jewish law cannot be disposed of are kept before they can be properly buried in a cemetery.
- GIAOURA non-Muslim, especially a Christian, an infidel; especially as used by Turkish people with particular reference to Christians such as Greeks, Armenians, Bulgarians, Serbs and Assy
- GIRAFFEA ruminant in the genus Giraffa of the African savannah with long legs, a highly elongated neck, yellow fur patterned with dark spots typically in the form of a network, and two or
- GOSHTmutton (or sometimes goat), normally as part of a South Asian curry.
- HONEA sharpening stone composed of extra-fine grit used for removing the burr or curl from the blade of a razor or some other edge tool.
- IBRIKA long-spouted pitcher, typically made of brass.
- ISPAGHULAPsyllium (Plantago ovata syn. Plantago ispaghula and Plantago afra syn. Plantago psyllium).
- JAGIRAn assignment of the produce and income of a particular district or village to a person or persons, as an annuity
- JAWANAn infantryman; a soldier.
- JEZAILAn Afghan matchlock or flintlock musket fired from a forked rest.
- JULEPA refreshing drink flavored with aromatic herbs, especially mint, and sometimes alcohol.
- KAFTANA long tunic worn in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- KENAFHibiscus cannabinus, an annual or biennial herbaceous plant found mainly in Asia.
- KENAFSHibiscus cannabinus, an annual or biennial herbaceous plant found mainly in Asia.
- KHEDIVEThe title of the hereditary monarch of Egypt from 1805–1914, nominally ruling as a viceroy of the Sultan of Turkey.
- KOFTAAny of various spicy meatball or meatloaf dishes of the Middle East, Caucasus, South Asia, and the Balkans.
- KOFTGARIOrnamental work produced by inlaying steel with gold; a variety of damascening common in Indian art.
- KOFTGARISOrnamental work produced by inlaying steel with gold; a variety of damascening common in Indian art.
- KURTAA traditional article of clothing worn in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, consisting of a loose, collarless, long-sleeved, knee-length shirt worn by both m
- LANGARA public eating-place in South Asia, now especially a communal kitchen run by a Sikh community and serving free food.
- LASCARA sailor from India or Southeast Asia, especially as serving on a European ship.
- LAZURITEA mineral of metamorphosed limestones. Lazurite forms the gemstone lapis lazuli, and crushed lazurite provided the ultramarine color in artists' paint of the Old Masters. Sodalite
- LEOPARDA large wild cat with a spotted coat native to Africa and Asia (Panthera pardus). The male of the species P. pardus, as distinguished from a leopardess.
- MAGEA magician, wizard, sorcerer, witch, warlock or mystic.
- MANTEAUA cloak or gown, especially of a kind popular with women in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- MANTICOREA beast with the body of a lion (usually red), the tail of a scorpion, and the head/face of a man with a mouth filled with multiple rows of sharp teeth (like a shark), said to be a
- MASALAAny of many blends of spices used in Indian cuisine, most often containing cardamom, coriander, mace together with pepper, nutmeg, fennel seeds, jeera etc.
- MEDICKAny of various European and North African herbs, of the genus Medicago, several of which are grown for fodder etc.
- MEZESmall portions of starters typical of Turkish, Greek and Levantine cuisine (equivalent to Spanish tapas or Hawaiian pu pu) often served as a light meal with pita.
- MIRZAAn educated man in India or Iran (Persia); an official, a clerk.
- MOHURA Persian gold coin.
- MUSKA greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
- NAANA type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
- NAPHTHANaturally occurring liquid petroleum.
- NIZAMThe hereditary sovereign of Hyderabad, a former state of India.
- PANEERA soft, non-matured, Indian cheese.
- PARAA former subunit of currency in several countries in the Ottoman/Turkish and Yugoslav regions.
- PARASANGA historical Iranian unit of itinerant distance used throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Middle East in antiquity, originally the distance travelled in one hour, and gener
- PARIAlternative form of peri.
- PASHAA high-ranking Turkish military officer, especially as a commander or regional governor; the highest honorary title during the Ottoman Empire.
- PASHMINAA Cashmere; a goat native to Kashmir.
- PERIA sprite or supernatural being.
- PESHWAOriginally, a chief minister under the Marathi princes; later, (the title of) each of the rulers of the Marathi kingdom in central India from 1713–1818.
- POSTEENA sheepskin cloak.
- PYJAMASUK standard form of pajamas.
- RAISINA dried grape.
- SANGARA fortified breastwork, niche, or look-out post, especially one built of stone, sod, or sandbags.
- SANTOORAn Indian string instrument, a trapezoidal hammered dulcimer with seventy strings, believed to be derived from the Persian santur.
- SATRAPA governor of a Persian province.
- SCIMITARA sword of Persian origin that features a curved blade.
- SEPOYA native soldier of the East Indies, employed in the service of a European colonial power, notably the British India army (first under the British-chartered East India Company, lat
- SERANGA native Indian boatswain; a lascar captain.
- SERENDIPITYThe phenomenon of making an unplanned, fortunate discovery through a combination of unexpected circumstances and insightful recognition.
- SHAWLA square or rectangular piece of cloth worn as a covering for the head, neck, and shoulders, typically by women.
- SHEEPA woolly ruminant of the genus Ovis.
- SHIKARHunting, sport; a hunting expedition.
- SIMURGHA gigantic winged benevolent creature.
- SIRDARA high-ranking person in India and other areas of west-central Asia; a chief, a headman.
- SITARA Hindustani/Indian classical stringed instrument, typically having a gourd as its resonating chamber.
- SJAMBOKA stout whip, especially made of rhinoceros or hippopotamus hide.
- SOFTAA religious student, especially in Turkey
- SOWARA soldier on horseback, especially one during the British Raj.
- SPAHIAn Ottoman (Turkish empire) cavalryman, especially as recruited under a land-based system.
- SPHEREA surface in three dimensions consisting of all points equidistant from a center. .
- SPINACHA particular edible plant, Spinacia oleracea, or its leaves.
- SUBADARThe governor or commander in charge of a subah; a viceroy.