jawan

Borrowed from Hindi जवान (javān), Urdu, from Persian جوان‎ (javân, “young, a youth”).

• IPA^(key): /dʒəˈwɑːn/

jawan (plural jawans)

1. (India) An infantryman; a soldier.
   • 1992, Satyindra Singh, Blueprint to Bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65, page 402

     In any event we soon had the Army jawan sent by the Major with us in the boat and headed for shore.

   • 1999, R. D. Pradhan, Debacle to Revival: Y.B. Chavan as Defence Minister, 1962-65, page 44

     He obviously expected one of the senior army officials to walk over and talk to the jawan.

   • 2011, Deepika Phukan, translating Arupa Patangia Kalita, The Story of Felanee:

     They could now see a whole lot of army jawans in gum boots looking for something in the mud.

• ajwan