chetty

noun

chet·​ty
variants or chettie
ˈchetē
plural chettis or chetties
-tēz
 or chettyars
-tēˌärz
often capitalized
: a member of a caste of Tamil moneylenders or merchants in southern India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, and South Africa

Word History

Etymology

Tamil-Malayalam ceṭṭi, from Sanskrit śreṣṭhin

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Dictionary Entries Near chetty

chetrum

chetty

chettyar

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Cite this Entry

“Chetty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chetty. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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