jemadar

jemadar

A jemadar leads a small group of soldiers on a morning patrol.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • An officer in the Indian Army: Historically, a "jemadar" was a rank equivalent to a junior commissioned officer in the British Indian Army, typically commanding a platoon or company.
    • A police officer in India: In colonial India, a "jemadar" referred to a native police officer, often in charge of a small station or unit.
    • A household steward or butler: Informally, especially in Anglo-Indian contexts, a "jemadar" could mean a domestic servant responsible for cleaning or managing household tasks.
    • A general term for a low-ranking servant: In colloquial usage, particularly in British colonial households, "jemadar" sometimes referred to a sweeper or menial worker.
Usage Examples
  • Military officer:
    • The jemadar led his platoon through the jungle during the campaign. (A junior commissioned officer in the Indian Army.)
  • Police officer:
    • The jemadar at the local station helped maintain order in the village. (A native police officer in colonial India.)
  • Household steward:
    • The jemadar arranged the furniture and supervised the other servants. (A butler or steward in an Anglo-Indian home.)
  • Colloquial servant:
    • He worked as a jemadar, sweeping the floors and emptying the bins. (A menial worker, often a sweeper.)
Advanced Usage

  • "jemadar-sahib": A respectful form of address for a jemadar, especially in military or formal contexts.

    • The soldiers saluted the jemadar-sahib as he inspected the barracks. (A polite title for a junior officer.)

  • Historical rank structure: In the British Indian Army, the jemadar was below the subedar but above the havildar, forming part of the Viceroy's Commissioned Officer (VCO) hierarchy.

    • He was promoted from havildar to jemadar after ten years of service. (A specific military rank progression.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Jamadar (alternate spelling): A common variant, especially in older texts or regional usage.

    • The jamadar supervised the village watchmen. (Same role as jemadar, with a different spelling.)

  • Subedar (related rank): A higher rank than jemadar in the British Indian Army.

    • The subedar commanded the company, while the jemadar led the platoon. (A superior officer.)
Synonyms
  • Junior officer: a low-ranking commissioned officer.
  • Steward: a person who manages household affairs.
  • Butler: the chief male servant of a household.
  • Sweeper: a person who cleans floors or streets (colloquial sense).
Related Idioms

  • "to act like a jemadar": To behave in a bossy or officious manner, especially in a domestic setting.

    • He strutted around the kitchen acting like a jemadar, ordering everyone about. (To act with exaggerated authority.)

  • "jemadar's parade": A military term for a formal inspection or roll call of troops led by a jemadar.

    • The soldiers stood at attention for the jemadar's parade. (A specific military ceremony.)