Forms: 7 ioggue, iogue, 7, 9 jogue, 8 jougie, joguey, 9 yoguee, yogue, yogee, yogi; yogin. [Hind. yogī (Skr. yogi-n), f. yoga: see YOGA.] An Indian devotee or ascetic who practises the system of YOGA, q.v.
1619. Purchas, Microcosmus, lvii. 543. The Indian Gymnosophists … offering violence to Nature in nakednesse, and strict absurd Niceties, wherein they are followed to this day by the Bramenes, Ioggues, and others. Ibid. (1625), Pilgrims, I. II. 3. An Indian Iogue, a begging Frier of that Bramene Religion.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. 152. There is another Sort called Jougies, who … go naked, except a Bit of Cloth about their Loyns.
1734. Cerem. & Relig. Customs Nat., III. 480. The Joguis, who affect to devote themselves to the most dreadful Torments, from a Principle of Pride and Fanaticism.
1810. Southey, Kehama, XIII. xvi. A band of Yoguees, as they roam’d the land Seeking a spouse for Jaga-Naut their God.
1813. J. Forbes, Oriental Mem., III. 14. A Yogee, who lives under the tree on the skin of a tiger or leopard, which they are very fond of.
1824. Heber, Narr. Journ. (1828), I. 133. A ‘Yogi’ (a religious mendicant).
1841. Penny Cycl., XX. 402/1. Hence has arisen the saying, that the ‘yogin’ is exalted above the Vedas.
1854. Milman, Lat. Christ., VIII. iv. III. 335. He attained a height of abstraction from earthly things which might have been envied by an Indian Yogue.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., II. xviii. 375. No wonder that … the Hindu yogi should bring on by fasting a state in which he can with bodily eyes behold the gods.
So Yogism, Yogeeism, the system of yoga or of the yogis; Yogist, a yogi.
1881. Sinnett, Occ. World, 27. The ethereal yogeeism which is called Ragi yog.
1881. N. & Q., 6th Ser. III. 291. The Indian yogist (or fakeer) Haridas.
1893. A. Lang, in Daily News, 20 April, 5/1. He reckons about 90,000 believers in Yogism.
