Anglo-Indian. [Hindustani bandar; a Pers. word.]
1. ‘A landing-place or quay; a seaport; a harbour; (and sometimes also a custom-house)’ (Col. Yule).
1673. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P. (1698), 115 (Y.). We … have Bunders or Docks for our Vessels, to which belong Yards for Seamen, Soldiers, and Stores.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xviii. 209. The King granted us a piece of Ground for a Bunder to repair our Ships and Vessels.
1809. Maria Graham, Jrnl. Resid. India (1813), 1 (Y.). On the new bunder, or pier, we found palankeens waiting to convey us from the shore.
2. Comb. Bunder-boat, ‘a boat in use on the Bombay coast for communicating with ships at anchor, and also much employed … in going up and down the coast’ (Col. Yule).
1825. Bp. Heber, Journ. Upper Prov. India (1828), II. 172. We crossed over … in a stout boat called here a bundur boat, I suppose from ‘bundur’ a harbour.
1845. Stocqueler, Hand-bk. Brit. India (1854), 112. Bunder-boats are obtainable at the piers.
