Definition

Noun: A professional female dancer in India, traditionally performing at social gatherings, festivals, or in royal courts. The term specifically refers to a woman trained in classical Indian dance forms for entertainment.

Usage

The term is used to refer to the profession or role of a female dancer in a traditional Indian context. * In historical accounts, the nautch girl was a central figure in many celebrations. * The painting depicts a nautch girl performing for a nobleman's court.

Advanced Usage

• The term "nautch" itself refers to the traditional dance performance.
  • The raja invited guests to a nautch at the palace.

Variants and Related Words

• Nautch (noun): The performance or entertainment involving such dancing.
• Dancing girl: A more general, modern synonym, though it lacks the specific cultural and historical connotations of "nautch girl."

Synonyms

• Professional dancer
• Dancing girl (in an Indian context)

Notes on Meaning

• The term "nautch girl" is historical and carries specific cultural connotations from pre-modern and colonial-era India. In modern usage, it is often replaced by terms like "classical dancer" or the specific name of the dance form (e.g., Kathak dancer, Bharatanatyam dancer), which emphasize the artistic skill and tradition rather than solely the entertainment role.

Noun

1. a professional dancing girl in India