Pagri India Turban or a cloth attached to a helmet.
Pan India Leaves (chewed) of the piper betel plant.
Panchyats India A delegation from a village led by the headman.
Pariah dog India semi wild - stray dog.
Parsi India/Middle East A member of a prosperous Zoroastrian community, originating in Persia, whose members were often found on India's west coast.
Patel India A farmer.
Pariah dog India semi wild - stray dog.
Peepul India A bushy tree - known as he "traveller's friend" because it drips moisture all year from its leaves.
Pice India Copper coin worth 1/4 Anna.
Pidgen Naval The word "Pidgin" is Chinese for "Business"; thus "Pidgin-English" means "Business English" and the expression "Not my pidgin" means "No concern of mine".
Pir India A Muslim spiritual guide.
Plimsoll Line Naval
The mark on the side of a merchant ship to denote the greatest depth to which the ship may be loaded, under various conditions, in accordance with the Ministry of Transport regulations. Samuel Plimsoll, M.P., introduced the regulations to Parliament; they were ratified under the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1876 and 1990.
Posh Naval This word, meaning "superior", is said to come from the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company's abbreviation for the phrase "Port Outward, Starboard Homeward", where the cabins were the cooler in the Red Sea and so the more attractive to passengers.
Poshteen India Sheepskin coat.
Preferential Duties Administrative/Legal Custom duties levied at a lower rate than usual on the imports from countries to whom preference has been given, for example, by a mother country to her colonies.
Privateer Naval A privately-owned armed ship which has authority from the ruler of its country to attack and capture the shipping of hostile nations.
Protectorate Administrative A territory that has been brought under the protection of the British government - usually by treaty with the local rulers. It often allowed the ruler to continue ruling domestically whilst ceding foreign and military affairs to the British.
Puja India A Hindu ceremony.
Punkah India Ceiling mounted blade fan.
Punkah Wallah India One who works a Punkah usually by pulling a cord.
