The Collaborative International Dictionary
Brahman \Brah"man\, Brahmin \Brah"min\, n.; pl. Brahmans, Brahmins. [Skr. Br[=a]hmana (cf. Brahman worship, holiness; the God Brahma, also Brahman): cf. F. Brahmane, Brachmane, Bramine, L. Brachmanae, -manes, -mani, pl., Gr. ?, pl.]
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A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the Hindus.
Brahman bull (Zo["o]l.), the male of a variety of the zebu, or Indian ox, considered sacred by the Hindus.
a person from an old, respected, and usually wealthy family who has considerable social or political influence; -- a term used especially in New England; as, a Boston brahmin.
Wiktionary
n. (plural of Brahmin English)
Usage examples of "brahmins".
The durbar talked all day and no course of action was formally agreed, but at dusk Scindia and the Rajah of Berar conferred briefly, then Scindia took his leave between rows of brahmins who bowed as their ruler passed.
The local Brahmins did not approve of the antiritualistic teachings of the Buddha, but his presence filled their coffers to overflowing.
The high-class brahmins, all in baggy trousers cut from gold brocade, white tunics and tall white turbans, sat closest to the two thrones, while behind them stood the military officers, Indian and European, who were perspiring in their finest uniforms.
Gawilghur was a hill fort that lay north and east of Borkardan and a group of brahmins were urging the army to retire there and let the British break their skulls against its cliffs and high walls.
The minister thanked the foreign officers for their advice, then pointedly turned back to the brahmins for their comments.
He soon returned, saying: "A procession of Brahmins is coming this way.
Some Brahmins, clad in all the sumptuousness of Oriental apparel, and leading a woman who faltered at every step, followed.
These were fervent Brahmins, the bitterest foes of Buddhism, their deities being Vishnu, the solar god, Shiva, the divine impersonation of natural forces, and Brahma, the supreme ruler of priests and legislators.
They make unreasonable demands of the Brahmins who run this place, and lounge around out front all day and night, pestering passers-by.
But your words move me, and they are superior to the teachings of the Brahmins.
A festive spirit had also infected Heaven, and with the gathering of the gods and the demigods, the heroes and the nobles, the high priests and the favored rajahs and high-ranking Brahmins, this spirit obtained force and momentum and spun like an all-colored whirlwind, thundering in the heads of the First and latest alike.
Preserved by three Brahmins, the inviolate deity, bearing the Yellow Diamond in its forehead, was removed by night, and was transported to the second of the sacred cities of India—the city of Benares.
Here, on the night when the shrine was completed, Vishnu the Preserver appeared to the three Brahmins in a dream.
And the Brahmins caused the prophecy to be written over the gates of the shrine in letters of gold.
When news spread of Fanny's death, some Boston Brahmins had felt an involuntary touch of pleasure—something they would never acknowledge or admit even to themselves—upon waking one morning to find that misfortune had visited someone so impossibly blessed in life.