Crossword clues for purdah
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Purdah \Pur"dah\, n. [Per. parda a curtain.]
A curtain or screen; also, a cotton fabric in blue and white
stripes, used for curtains.
--McElrath.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1800, from Urdu and Persian pardah "veil, curtain," from Old Persian pari "around, over" (from PIE *per- (1); see per-) + da- "to place", from PIE *dhe- "to set, put" (see factitious).
Wiktionary
n. 1 A curtain, especially as used to conceal and divide women from men and strangers in some Hindu or Muslim traditions. 2 (context rare English) A striped cotton cloth which is used to make curtains. 3 A long veil, or other all-enveloping clothing, worn by women in some Muslim societies. 4 The state or system of social gender seclusion in some Muslim or Hindu communities. 5 (context UK politics English) The time between the announcement and holding of an election, during which any governmental activities that may be construed as potentially benefiting or promoting a specific political party or prospective candidate are halted or suspended. 6 (context UK politics English) The period after plans have been prepared but before the Chancellor of the Exchequer's annual budget is announced, when he refrains from discussing any matters which have relevance to the forthcoming budget.
WordNet
n. a state of social isolation [syn: solitude]
the traditional Hindu or Muslim system of keeping women secluded [syn: sex segregation]
a screen used in India to separate women from men or strangers
Wikipedia
Purdah or pardah (from Persian: پرده, meaning "curtain") is a religious and social practice of female seclusion prevalent among some Muslim communities in South Asia. The variation of purdah worn by Hindu women is known as Ghoonghat. It takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes and the requirement that women cover their bodies so as to cover their skin and conceal their form. A woman who practices purdah can be referred to as pardanashin or purdahnishan.
Physical segregation within buildings is achieved with judicious use of walls, curtains, and screens. A woman's withdrawal into purdah usually restricts her personal, social and economic activities outside her home. The usual purdah garment worn is a burqa, which may or may not include a yashmak, a veil to conceal the face. The eyes may or may not be exposed.
Purdah was rigorously observed under the Taliban in Afghanistan, where women had to observe complete purdah at all times when they were in public. Only close male family members and other women were allowed to see them out of purdah. In other societies, purdah is often only practised during certain times of religious significance.
Married Hindu women in parts of Northern India observe ghoonghat in the presence of older male relations on their husbands' side. This custom is not followed by Hindu women elsewhere in India.
Purdah is a religious and social practice of female seclusion in some Muslim and Hindu communities.
Purdah may also refer to:
- Purdah (pre-election period), the pre-election period in the United Kingdom
- Budget purdah, the period before the United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer's annual budget is announced
- Purdah, the face-veil portion of the burqa
Purdah is the pre-election period in the United Kingdom, specifically the time between an announced election and the final election results. The time period prevents central and local government from making announcements about any new or controversial government initiatives (such as modernisation initiatives or administrative and legislative changes) which could be seen to be advantageous to any candidates or parties in the forthcoming election. Where a court determines that actual advantage has been given to a candidate, this may amount to a breach of Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986.
At its weakest, the time period brings a moral commitment for executive officers not, unless ordered by elected representatives, to enter into any transactions or carry out any works which would conflict with the stated intentional commitments ( manifesto) of the cabinet or shadow cabinet and possibly other candidates.
Usage examples of "purdah".
As soon as they came near the border, Ram Das suggested that Helen should now wear the shalwar kameeze of a northern Indian Muslim woman and travel in purdah and he purchased a green tunic, embroidered in gold, matching trousers and a black Burka that covered her from head to toe - a stifling, but even more effective camouflage.
Close to the spot where the maharanee had halted were some hangings of brocade arranged, as we understood later, so that the seated and veiled figure of a woman might observe the brilliant pageantry of the day from the privacy of this purdah.
The female hold on male sexual pleasure, on life itself—these were realities for patriarchs as much as anyone, despite all their repression, their fear of the female which had been expressed in so many ways, purdah, clitoridectomy, foot binding and so on—ugly stuff indeed, a desperate ruthless last-ditch defense, successful for a time, certainly—but now blown away without a trace.
It stopped, and she drew the curtains and handed out the Maharani Jeendan: she was all in shimmering white, and although she wore a gauzy purdah veil I believe I'd have recognised that hourglass figure anywhere.
But it was impossible to prevent Mabel's knowing of my nightly visits to her father's bungalow, and what went on there in consequence, and I have little doubt she often witnessed scenes of joy, in which she burned to play her part, from behind the purdah.
Then the king goes again to where the idol is, and as soon as he is inside they lift the curtains[441] of the room, which are made like the purdahs of a tent, and the king seats himself there where these are, and they lift them all.