‖ kotwal East Ind.
(ˈkɒtwɑːl)
Forms: 6–7 catual(l, 7 cutwal(l, coute-, cotoval, 8 cautwaul, catwal, 9 cutwahl, -wal, -waul, kat-, cot-, kutwal, kotwal(l.
[Hindī koṭwāl, Urdu and Pers. kotwāl, katwāl, porter or keeper of a castle or fort, magistrate.]
A chief officer of police for a city or town in India; a native town magistrate.
‘The office in Western and Southern India, technically speaking, ceased about 1862. In Bengal the term has been long obsolete’ (Yule).
| 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. 50 The Catuall sent to the Captaine generall a Horse. 1616 Sir T. Roe in Pinkerton's Voy. (1811) VIII. 5, I was conducted by the Cutwall to visit the Prince. 1680 tr. Trav. Tavernier, etc. II. 119 The Cotoval, who is, as 'twer, the great Prevost. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. 197 Mr. Boucher..presently knew the Poison, and carried it to the Cautwal or Sheriff. 1763 Orme Hist. Mil. Trans. Ind. (1803) I. 26 The Catwal is the judge and executor of justice in criminal cases. 1822 15 Yrs. India 188 The oldest and most venerable looking man in a village is Cutwal, with a court under him. 1845 Stocqueler Handbk. Brit. India (1854) 410 The Katwal, or chief officer of justice. 1859 Lang Wand. India 42, I was enticed away from my home by the Kotwall (native police officer). |
Hence ‖ koˈtwalee, kotwali, police station.
| 1845 Stocqueler Handbk. Brit. India (1854) 227 In the centre of the city is the cutwallee, police-office. 1884 M. Thornhill Advent. Ind. Mut. xvii. 158 We should have to pass the kotwallee to reach the fort. 1964 A. Swinson Six Minutes to Sunset ii. 34 Major MacDonald marched a company of troops down Hall Gate as far as the Kotwali. 1969 Pioneer (Lucknow) 13 Aug. 6/7 The kotwali police claim to have arrested last night three of the inter-district gang of burglars operating for several years in Pratapgarh, Sultanpur and Allahabad districts. |