Nayar

noun

variants or Nair

ˈnī(ə)r

plural Nayar or Nayars or Nair or Nairs

1

: a people of the Malabar coast of India formerly noted for polyandry and a matrilineal social organization

2

: a member of the Nayar people

Word History

Etymology

Malayalam nāyar, from Sanskrit nāyaka

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