banians
|ba-ni-ans|
/ˈbæn.jənz/
(banian)
Indian merchant; banyan (tree); loose gown
Etymology
'banian' originates from Hindi/Gujarati (from the word 'bania' or 'vaṇij'), where the root meant 'merchant' or 'trader'.
'banian' entered English in the early modern period via Portuguese and other European accounts of India; the Indian term 'bania' (from Sanskrit 'vaṇij') was adapted into English as 'banian' (also attested as 'banyan') and used in travel and trade contexts.
Initially, it meant 'merchant' or 'trader' in the source languages; over time in English it came to denote specifically those Indian merchants or brokers who served European traders (a more specialized, historical usage).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'banian': (historical) Indian merchants, brokers, agents, or moneylenders—especially those who acted as intermediaries between European traders and local markets.
Many banians acted as intermediaries for the European trading companies in the 18th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 14:42