E. Ind. Forms: 7 gemidar, 7–8 jem(m)idar, 8 jemitdar, jemendar, zemidar, zemendar, zimeendar, 8–9 zamindar, 9 zem-, zumeendar, 8– zemindar. [Hind., a. Pers. zamīndār (also zamīdar), f. zamīn, zamī earth + dār holder.
The pronunciation shown by the earliest forms gemi-, jemidar, is that of the North West Provinces of India today, where ‘the rustic pronunciation of the word zamīndār is hardly distinguishable from the Anglo-Indian pronunciation of Jama’dār’ (Yule).]
Formerly, a collector of the revenue from land held by a number of cultivators; now, a native who holds land for which he pays revenue direct to the British government.
1683. W. Hedges, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 77. We lay at Bogatchera,… ye Gemidar invited us ashore, and showed us Store of Deer, Peacocks, &c.
1698. Ext. Consultations at Chuttanutte, 31 Oct. (Yule). Paying the said Rent to the King as the Jemidars have successively done.
1713. MS. Records, in Yule & Burnell, Anglo-Ind. Gloss., s.v. Mr. Edwd. Page … Jemendar.
1753. Hanway, Trav. (1762), II. XIV. iv. 357, note. Rajahs, who are the chiefs of those people who are distinguished by the name of zemidars, which signifies possessors of lands.
1764. Ann. Reg., St. Papers, 188/1. To all governors, officers … and zemindars … in the provinces of Bengal.
1776. Jas. Rennell, MS. Lett., 5 Aug. (Yule). The Countrey Jemitdars remote from Calcutta, treat us frequently with great Insolence.
1781. Ann. Reg., Hist. Eur., 177/1. The Zemindars, who are the present great land-holders of India, are likewise a sort of hereditary princes of the country.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. I. vii. 401. The Zemindars had been formerly charged with the management of the police, and were held accountable for all acts of robbery or violence committed within their Zemindaris.
1890. Times, 8 March, 4/1. The zemindar of Devarakota.
Hence Zemindarship, zemindary.
1698. Ext. Consultations at Chuttanutte, 31 Oct. (1788) (Yule). The Prince having given us … the Jemmidarship of the said towns.
1860. [C. Grant], Rur. Life Bengal, 64. For the honour and glory of Zumeendarship he cares not a fig.
1878. Jas. Grant, Hist. India, I. ii. 9. For a good round sum he sold to the East India Company the zemindarships of Govindpore, Chutanutty, and Calcutta.
