‖ chowry
(ˈtʃaʊrɪ)
Also chowree, chowrie.
[a. Hindī chauṅrī, f. Skt. chāmara (Yule).]
A whisk or fly-flapper, made of hair or feathers (prop. the bushy tail of the Tibetan Yak). ‘In a costly decorated handle, it was one of the insignia of ancient Asiatic royalty’. In 17–18th c. commonly called by Englishmen cow-tail.
| 1777 Stewart Thibet in Phil. Trans. LXVII. 484 The tails..are used, mounted on silver handles, for Chowras. c 1813 Mrs. Sherwood Stories Ch. Catech. xxvii. 283 A black woman..beating away the flies with a chowry. 1827 Scott Surg. Dau. xiv, A confidential servant waved the great chowry, or cow-tail, to keep off the flies. 1848 J. H. Stocqueler Oriental Interpreter, Chowrie, or whisk, made by fastening horse-hair to a short stick, commonly lacquered in rings of alternate colours. This implement is used to drive the flies away. 1864 J. A. Grant Walk across Africa 146 A small boy..carried his chowrie, or fly-flapper. 1881 Grant Cameronians I. iii. 42 No need for a chowree to whisk inside the curtains here, as in India. |