Dictionary

andor en · NOUN

Etymology

From Portuguese andor, from Malayalam, from Sanskrit हिन्दोल (hindola, “swinging cradle, hammock litter, dooly”). Compare dooly from Sanskrit दुल् (dul) via Hindi.

Meanings

1. (India, historical) Synonym of dandy or hammock litter, a strong cloth suspended from a pole or set of poles used as an open sedan chair.
   • P. della Valle writes in the same strain: "And these two, the palankins and the andors [a kind of doli] also differ from one another, for in the andor the cane which sustains it is, as it is in the reti, straight; whereas in the palankin, for the greater convenience of the inmate, and to give more room for raising his head, the cane is arched upwards like this, _∩_..." 1916 July, Henry Yule & al., "Padre Maestro Fray Seb. Manrique in Bengal (1628–Sept. 11, 1629)", Bengal Past & Present, Vol. XIII, No. 25, p. 32
2. (India, archaic) Synonym of palanquin, used variously for nearly any kind of Indian litter.
   • 1498. — "After two days had passed he... came to the factory in an andor [i.e. a chowpaul] which men carried on their shoulders, and these... consist of great canes which are bent overhead and arched, and from these are hung certain cloths of a half fathom wide, and a fathom and a half long, and at the ends are pieces of wood to bear the cloth which hangs from the cane; and laid over the cloth there is a great mattrass of the same size, and this all made of silk-stuff wrought with gold-thread, and with many decorations and fringes and tassels; whilst the ends of the cane are mounted with silver, all very gorgeous, and rich, like the lords who travel so." — Correa, i. 102. 1886, Henry Yule & al., Hobson-Jobson, s.v. "andor"
   • 1552. — "The Moors all were on foot, and their Captain was a valiant Turk, who as being their Captain, for the honour of the thing was carried in an Andor [i.e. a takhtrawan] on the shoulders of 4 men, from which he gave his orders as if he were on horseback." — Barros, II. vi. viii. 1886, Henry Yule & al., Hobson-Jobson, s.v. "andor"
3. (Portugal) Synonym of litter, used in religious processions of saints' figurines.

Forms

Synonyms

litter · used in religious processions of saints' figurines · palanquin · used variously for nearly any kind of Indian litter · dandy or hammock litter