[Burmese wun.] A Burmese administrative officer. Also Woondock, Woongee, names for different grades of this.
1800. M. Symes, Acc. Embassy Ava, xiii. 308. To assist in the administration of affairs, four officers, called Woondocks, are associated with the Woongees. Ibid., 309. There are … officers … who bear no ostensible share in the administration of public affairs, such as the Daywoon, or King’s armour-bearer; the Chaingeewoon, or master of the elephants; also the Woons of the Queen’s household.
1856. Putnam’s Monthly Mag., June, 561/1. A message came down from the Woon, or head man, of the friendly people who inhabited the interior town of Pegu.
1886. Ld. R. Churchill, in Daily News, 26 Jan., 2/4. Those [English] officers were supported by troops and were working through local [Burmese] woons.
