naik

noun

na·​ik

ˈnä|ik

variants or less commonly naig

|ig

or naigue

|ˌēg

or naique

|ˌēk

or nayak

|yək

plural -s

1

: a leader, chief, or governor in India

—used as a title of authority or form of address

2

: a native subordinate officer in the British India army

specifically : corporal

Word History

Etymology

Hindi nāyak, from Sanskrit nāyaka, literally, leader, from nayati he leads; akin to Middle Irish nē, nīa warrior, hero, Avestan nayeiti he leads, brings, Hittite nāi- to control, lead

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