Glossary of Land Revenue Words
(From Punjab Settlement Manual)
A
Abadi deh
Inhabited site of village.
Abi
Watered by lift from tanks, pools, marshes, or streams.
Abiana
An assessment levied in addition to the assessment at unirrigated rates on account of the advantage derived from irrigation (Paragraph 61).
Abwab
Cesses.
Adhlapi
A man who by sinking a well in another man’s land acquires ownership in half of the land attached to the well (paragraph 173).
Adna malik
Inferior owner.
Ahtrafi
A cess paid by artisance to the village proprietors.
Ala lambardar
Chief lambardar (Headman).
Ala malik.
Superior owner.
Amin
Surveyor employed for making village maps.
Ang
Cess on cattle levied by proprietors on other residents in village for grazing in village waste.
Anwanda
Clearing tenant in Dera Ghazi Khan (See note, page 107 of Settlement manual).
Asami
Tenant (in old settlement literature the term is sometimes confined to a resident tenant).
B
Bachh
Distribution of revenue over holdings.
Badastur
Ledger.
Bahi
Unaltered.
Bajra
A kind of millet (Pennisetum typhodeum).
Bakhra
Share (in Pathan tracts).
Banda
Hamlet (in Pathan tracts).
Bangar
Upland tract.
Banjar
Uncultivated land.
Bania
Village’s shopkeeper, money-lender.
Banjar
Uncultivated land.
Banjar kadim
New fallow (for all explanation see paragraph 267).
Banjar kadim
Old fallow (for full explanation see paragraph 267).
Barani
Dependent on rainfall.
Batai
Rent taken by division of crop.
Batta
A form of village tenure (see paragraph 139).
Bhaichara
Sub-number (paragraph 271).
Bhoang
Due paid harvest by harvest to a godkesh tenant (note on page 107).
Bhunga
Cess on cattle levied by proprietors on other residents in a village for grazing in village waste.
Bhur
Sand.
Bigha
A measure of area. In the Western Punjab the bigha is half a ghumao, in the east the shahjahani bigha is five-eighths of an acre and the zamindari or kacha bigha five-twenty fourths of an acre. The actual bigha used by the Zamindari does not always correspond with the kacha bigha used in settlement surveys (see paragraph 243).
Bir
A preserve.
Bisa
One-twentieth of a bigha (q. v).
Biswi
A fee paid in recognition of property right.
Biswansi
One-twentieth of a bigha (q.v).
Burji
A survey pillar.
Butemar
A tenant who has acquired permanent rights in the land by clearing it of jangal.
C
Chaharam
A grant of one-fourth of the ruler’s share of the produce to an individual or family of influence.
Chah
Well; well-holding.
Chahi
Irrigated from a well.
Chahi khalis
Irrigated only from a well as distinguished from chahi-narhi (q.v) or chahi-sailab.
Chahi-nahri
Irrigated partly from a well and partly from canal.
Chak
Assessment circle, a block of land.
Chakbat
Applied to a patti or sub-division of an estate which has all its land lying in one block (see Khetbat).
Chakdar
Inferior owner (in South-West Punjab). For full explanation, (see paragraph 168).
Chakla
Assessment circle.
Chakota
Lump grain rent or rent consisting of a fixed amount of grain in the rabi, and a fixed amount of cash in the kharif harvest (see paragraph 312).
Chapparband
A term for a resident (see tenant paragraph 196) entitled to permanent occupation at a fixed rate of rent (see paragraph 197).
Chari
A kind of millet (q.v) grown for fodder (see jowar).
Chaudhri
Rural notable.
Chaukidar
Village watchman.
Chela
Supiritual son or pupil.
Chhambh
A marsh.
Chhar
A system of silt clearance under which the clearance is effected by the irrigators themselves (see paragraph 449).
Chundavand
A custom of inheritance under which several sons by one wife inherit the same share as a single son by another wife (see pagvand).
D
Daftri
Owner in pathan tracts (see paragraph 157).
Dak
Post.
Dakar
Stiff clay soil.
Darbar
Council or other governing body in a Native State.
Darkhwast Mal
Tender of engagement to pay the land revenue.
Duzari
Assessment.
Darya
River.
Dastur-ul-amal
Hand-book for the guidance of district revenue officers in carrying out of the provisions of the settlement.
Daul
Estimate of revenue payable by different estates (see paragraph 16).
Daulp
Ridge.
Dharat
Weighment fee; levied on sales of produce within village (see paragraph 94).
Dhenkli
A hand-lever well.
Dhok
Hamlet.
Doab
Country lying between two rivers.
Dohli
Death-bed gift of a small plot of land to a Brahman.
E
Ekfasli
Yielding one crop in each agricultural year.
F
Fakir
Religious mendicant.
Fard Ranngazi.
List of fields for colouring purposes.
G
Gharldakhilkar
Tenant-at-will.
Ghair Maurasi
Tenant-at-will.
Ghairmumkin
Barren.
Ghi
Clarified butter.
Ghumao
A measure of area (see paragraph 243).
Girdawar
Kanungo or supervisor of patwaris (Paragraph 292-A).
Girdawari
Harvest inspection.
Godkesh
Tenant in Multan who has acquired a permanent title by breaking up waste (note on page 107).
Gora
Land close to a village site which is often heavily manured.
Gosha
Corner.
Got
Sub-division of a tribe.
Guru
Spiritual father or guide.
H
Hakimi hissa
The ruler’s share of the produce.
Hakk buha
Dorr tax; a cess levied by proprietors from other residents in a village (see paragraph 94).
Hakkdar
A tenant entitled to permanent occupation at a fixed rate of rent (see paragraph 197).
Hamsayas
Dependents occupying outlying hamlets of a pathan estate on condition of assisting in repelling raids on the lands of the proprietors (see paragraph 159).
Hari
Applied to land cropped only in the rabi harvest.
Hathrakhaidar
A man who agreed to become responsible for payment of the revenue on condition of receiving the proprietor’s share of the produce; has less a fee paid in recognition of the owner’s proprietary title (see paragraph 172).
I
Ikrarnama
Village administration paper, same as wajib-ul-arz.
Iliaqawar
Relating to an ilaka or tract.
Inam
A cash allowance paid to secure the services of a man of influence.
Inamdar
The holder of an inam (q.v)
Ismi
A proprietary fee.
J
Jadid
See banjar jaded. Also a class of tenant ( see paragraph 196).
Jagir
An assignmen of land revenue.
Jagirdar
Holder of an assignment of land-revenue.
Jama
Land revenue demand.
Jamabandi
Register of holdings of owners and tenants showing land held by each and amounts payable as rent, land revenue, and cesses.
Jamai
A class of tenant (see paragraph 196).
Jangal
Uncultivated land covered with brushwood and small trees.
Jhalar
A Persian-wheel by which water is raised from a stream or canal.
Jahalari
Irrigated by jhalar (q.v).
Jhil
A sheet of water.
Jhuri
Fee paid to proprietor when entering on possession of land (see paragraph 168).
Jinswar
Relating to crops, also the crop statement for any particular harvest.
Jowar
A kind of millet (Sorghum Vulgare).
K
Kabza
Possession.
Kacha
Incomplete or imperfect, applied to village measures of area and weights as distinguished from those recognised by Government; not lined with masonry (of a well).
Kacha asami
Term used for a tenant-at-will (see paragraph 197).
Kacha bigha
See bigha.
Kacha malba
The system under which the amount actually expended on the common pruposes fo a village is distributed periodically over the proprietors. To be distinguished from pakka malba (q.v).
Kachahri
District court-house.
Kadam
A pace (see paragraph 243).
Kadim
See banjar kadim also a class of tenant (see paragraph 197).
Kadimi
A class of tennat (see paragraph 198).
Kaifiyat
Report note.
Kalar
Barren land, also applied to reh efflorescence, and in the east of the Punjab to sour clay rice (Land kalar dahr).
Kamlana
Cess paid by artisans to the proprietors of the village in which they ply their trade (see paragraph 94).
Kan
Appraisement of crops, realization of landlord’s share of produce in cash after appraising its amount and value.
Kanal
A measure or area (see paragraph 243).
Kania
A man who appraises crops.
Kankar
Lime modules.
Kankut
Same as kan (q.v).
Kanungo
Supervisor of patwaris.
Karam
Unit of length.
Kardar
Title of official in Indian State.
Karguzari
Outturn of work.
Karukan
Length and breadth.
Kasur
Fee paid in recognition of proprietary title (see paragraph 170).
Khadir
Lowlying land near river.
Khaka
Rough plan.
Khalsa
The Sikh commonwealth. Revenue credited to Government as contrasted with jagir (q.v.) revenues.
Khamtahsil
Direct management of estate by Government.
Kharaba
Portion of crop which has failed to come to maturity.
Kharach
Cess realized by landlord in addition to rent (see paragraph 339).
Kharif
Autumn harvest.
Khasanve
Same as vesh (q.v).
Khasra
List of folds, field register.
Khasra girdawari.
Harvest inspection register.
Khata
Holding of a tenant.
Khatauni
A list of holdings of tenants. Holding slips prepared at re-measurement (see Appendix VII).
Khetbat
Applied to a patti or sub-division of an estate; all the land of which does not lie in a single block (see chakbat).
Khewat
A list of owners’ holdings.
Khewat-khatauni.
A combined khewat and khatauni corresponding to the present jamabandi (see Paragraph 274).
Khudkasht
Cultivated by the owner himself.
Khula vesh
Fresh calculation of shares at time of vesh (q.v.) (See paragraph 158).
Khush-haisiyati
Owner’s rate, water, or canal-advantage rate.
Killabandi
(See Appendix XIV).
Kudhi-Lamini
A cess on hearths realized by proprietors from other residents in a village (see paragraph 94).
Kuhmar
A tenant in Dera Gazi Khan who has earned a permanent title by sinking a well (see paragraph 211).
L
Lakh
1,00,000.
Lakhiraj
Exempt from assessment.
Lambardar
Village headman.
Latha girdawari.
Cloth copy of the patwari’s map (Paragraph 292 and Appendix XXI).
Lathband
A tenant who acquires rights in land by embanking fields (see Paragraph 211).
Lathmar
Same as lathband (q.v).
Lichh
Fee paid in recognition of proprietary title (see Paragraph 169).
Lungi
Fee paid to proprietor when enterin on possession of land (see paragraph 168).
M
Mafi
Revenue free.
Mafidar
The holder of an assignment of land revenue.
Mahal
Estate.
Mahsul
Share of produce due to sate, now share of produce taken by person who pays the revenue in money (see paragraph 170).
Mahsulkhor
A kind of land revenue farmer (see paragraph 172).
Maira
Sandy loam.
Mal
Land Revenue
Malatar
Same as hamsaya (q.v).
Malba
Fund out of which common village expenses are defrayed.
Malguzar
Person responsible for payment of land revenue.
Malguzari
Relating to assessment assessable.
Malik
Owner in Western Punjab; malik means a leading man in a section of a tribe.
Malik adna
Inferior proprietor.
Malik ala
Superior proprietor.
Malikana
Fee paid in recogniting of proprietary title.
Malik Kabza
A man who owners the land actually in his possession; but has no share in the common property of the village community (see paragraph 142).
Marla
A measure of area (see paragraph 243).
Masri
…
A small pulse.
Matyat
…
A word used in United provinces fro a clay soil. Occupancy tenant.
Mauza
…
Village.
Mauzawar
…
By villages (paragraph 512).
Milan khasra
…
An area statement abstracted from the khasra (q.v) annual area statement.
Milan rakba
…
Annual area statement.
Milkiyat adna
…
Inferior ownership.
Milkiyat ala
…
Superior ownership.
Milkiyat makbuz
…
Tenure of a malik kabza (q.v).
Min
…
Portion.
Minhai
…
Excluded from the assessable area.
Minjumla
…
Part out of a whole (Instruction 3, Appendix VIII).
Mirasi
…
A class of Landholder (See paragraph 196).
Mirasidar
…
A class of landholder (see Paragraph 196).
Misl haqiyat
…
Record-of- rights.
Moth
…
A small pulse (phareoolus trilobus).
Muhtarafa
…
Same as ahtrafi (q.v).
Mukaddim
…
Superior proprietor (see paragraph 167), also a leading man or headman in a village community (see paragraph 115).
Makaddmi
…
Fee paid to superior proprietor in recognition of proprietary title (see paragraph 169).
Mukarraridar
…
A kind of occupancy tenant (see paragraph 211).
Mundhimar
…
A man who acquires occupancy right in land by clearing it of jangal (see paragraph 211).
Munshi
…
An Indian clerk.
Muntakhib assamiwar
…
Statement of owners and tenants, holding with detail of fields and rent, etc.
Musavi
…
Mapping sheet.
Mushakhsadar
…
A farmer of the land revenue (See paragraph 172).
N
Nagha
…
Commutation paid for failure to perform ehher (q.v) labour.
Nahri
…
Irrigated from a canal.
Nahri-parts
…
Assessment rate over and above the assessment rate or unirrigated land applied to nahri land in calculating the fixed assessment which it shall pay (see paragraph 446).
Naib-tehsildar
…
The deputy or assistant of he Tehsildar (q.v.).
Naksha alamat
…
List of conventional signs.
Naksha-intikal
…
Statement of land transfers.
Naksha-lakhiraj
…
Statement of land revenue assignments.
Naksha-thakbast
…
Village boundary map (see paragraphs 248 and 270).
Nala
…
Drain or watercourse.
Nautor
…
Land brought under cultivation for the first time.
Nazim
…
Governor of large tract in an Indian State.
Nazrana
…
An abatement from the revenue to an estate, etc., retained by government in making a land revenue assignment to an individual.
Nazul
…
Land, etc. which has become the property of government by escheat or failure of heirs.
Niai
…
Manured.
P
Pachotra
…
A surcharge of 5 per cent on the revenue paid to village headmen.
Pag
…
Fee paid to proprietor on entering on possession of land and (see paragraph 168).
Pagvand
…
A custom of inheritance under which sons by different wives inherit equal shares in land (see chundavand) the property being divided per capita.
Pahikasht
…
A tenant who does not live in the village in which he cultivates land .
Paipath
…
A fee paid, to a superior owner in a recognition of his proprietary title (see paragraph 169).
Pakka
…
Complete or perfect applied to measures of weight and area recognized by government as distinguished from those used in villages; lined with masonry (of a well).
Pakka malba
…
The system under which the amount to be collected for common village expenses in fixed at a definite percentage on the land revenue.
Pana
…
A sub-division of an estate (see paragraph 128).
Panahi
…
A tenant protected from ejectment for a term, of years (See paragraph 203).
Panapalat
…
A form of periodical distribution of a land in the Gurgaon District (see paragraph 158).
Parcha
…
An extract from a khatauni or Jamabandi, a copy of the entry in a khatauni regarding his holding given to a right-holder at measurement (see paragraph 2, Appendix VII).
Pargana
…
A group of estates forming a sub-division of a district or Tehsil.
Part Sirkar
…
Government copy of the new settlement record.
Part Tehsil
…
Tehsil copy of the settlement map (paragraph 292 and Appendix XXI).
Parta
…
Assessment rate.
Patta
…
Leather cover such as is used fro protecting account books by Indian shopkeepers (see Appendix VII) also deed of grant (see paragraph 152).
Patti
…
A sub-division of an estate (see paragraph 128); also a well holding (see paragraph 165).
Pattidar
…
A form of village tenure (see paragraphs 137 and 138).
Patwari
…
A village accountant or registrar.
Puchh-bakri
…
A cess on marriage levied by proprietors from other resides in a village (see paragraph 94).
R
Rabi
…
Spring harvest.
Raiyat
…
Tenant.
Raiyatwari
…
A form of settlement in which the occupant of each holdings is under a separate engagement with Government, as distinguished from the village settlement in force in North-Western area.
Rakh
…
A preserve.
Rangsaz
…
A colourist.
Rassa-Buti
…
A form of tenure in riverain estates in Sialko (see note on page 72).
Rastah
…
Pathway.
Rausli
…
A loam soil.
Riwaj-I-am
…
Record of customs followed by the chief tribes in a district in the matter of marriage, inheritance, etc. (see paragraphs 561—567).
Ret
…
Sand.
Rohi
…
A stiffish soil containing a considerable amount of clay.
Rubakati-akhir
…
Brief abstract of settlement proceedings appended to settlement record (see paragraph 270).
S
Sabik
…
Former.
Sadr
…
Headquarters station.
Sad malguzars
…
Leading land-owners allowed to become responsible for revenue assessed on an estate (see paragraph 17).
Sailab
…
Flooded or kept permanently moist by river.
Sailaba
…
Same as sailab (q.v.).
Sair
…
Miscellaneous income derived from an estate by its owners over and above the profits fo cultivation (see paragraph 356).
Sanad
…
A deed of grant.
Sarak
…
Road.
Sarsahi
…
A measure of area (See paragraph 243).
Sarsari parts
…
An all-round rate on cultivation without discrimination of soils or classes of land.
Sawani
…
Cropped only in the autumn harvest.
Sayar
…
See sair.
Ser
…
A measure of weight, 1/40th of maund.
Seri
…
Grant of land made by pathan Chief to me who helped him with their swords or their prayers.
Sermani
…
A fee of one ser in the mauud of produce paid in recognition of proprietary title.
Shahjahani bigha
…
See bigha.
Shahnahri
…
Irrigated from a canal owned by the State.
Shajra
…
Map, plan.
Shajra kishtwar
…
Village common land.
Shikast
…
Broken.
Shora
…
Saltpetre.
Sihadda
…
Masonry pillar or platform erected at point where boundaries of three villages meet.
Silhdar
…
Same as chakdar (q.v.).
Sir jagir
…
Land owned by jagirdat in an estate of which the revenue is assigned to him.
Sir-o-pa
…
Fee paid to proprietor when entering on possession of land (see paragraph 168).
Siwai
…
Cesses also same as sair (q.v.).
T
Tafrik
…
Distribution of revenue over holdings.
Tahrij asamiwar
…
Abstract of khatauni showing tenants, holdings with their areas and rents; but without details of fields (see paragraph 270).
Tehsil
…
A sub-division of a district, charge of Tehsildar.
Tehsildar
…
Official in chief executive charge of a Tehsil.
Takavi
…
Loan granted by Government to a land-owner for agricultural purposes.
Talukdar
…
A superior proprietor (see paragraphs 103, 143 and 145).
Taraddadkar
…
A class of tenant in jhang (see paragraph 211).
Taraf
…
A sub-division of an estate.
Tarika paimaish
…
Note of method of suvey (Appendix XXI).
Tarmim
…
Correction.
Tawani
…
A class of tenant in Kohat
Thana
…
Police Station or the jurisdiction of a police Station (see paragraph 579).
Tahana patti
…
Marriage fee levied by proprietors of village from other residents (See paragraph 94).
Thok
…
A sub-division of an estate (see paragraph 128).
Thula
…
A sub-division of an estate (see paragraph 128).
V
Vesh
…
Periodical redistribution of land among proprietors (see paragraph 158).
W
Wajib-ul-arz
…
Village administration paper (see paragraphs 295-296-A and Appendix VIII).
Waris
…
Landholder (see paragraphs 152, 175, 178 and 197-A).
Warisi
…
Right of the waris (q.v.).
Water
…
Line.
Wirsana
…
Fee paid in recognition of proprietary title.
Z
Zabti
…
Cash rents levied on account of certain crops.
Zail
…
A group of estates out of which some representative man is appointed zaildar.
Zaildar
…
A man of influence appointed to have charge of a zail.
Zamindar
…
Land-owner.
Zamindari
…
A form of village tenure (see paragraph 136).
Zamindari bigha
…
See bigha.
Zari-I-Zagha
…
Fund formed out of commutation paid by persons who do not perform the chher (q.v.) labour for which they are responsible.
Zillah (zil’s)