punkah

Borrowed from Hindi पंखा (paṅkhā, “fan”), from Sanskrit पक्षक (pakṣaka), from पक्ष (pakṣa, “wing”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʌŋkə/, IPA^(key): /ˈpʌŋkɑː/

punkah (plural punkahs)

1. (South Asia) A fan, especially made of leaf or cloth and hung from the ceiling; in the past often operated by a servant.
   • 1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:

     Perhaps it was a mistake to invite Mr Stanhope; the day was intolerably hot and humid; all he wanted to do was to lie on his bed with a punkah sighing over him, at least moving the unbreathable air.

• punkahwallah