Anglo-Indian. Also 7–8 cajan. [ad. Malay and Javan. ḳājāng palm-leaves, ‘introduced by foreigners into Southern India’ (Yule).]
1. ‘Coco-palm leaves matted, the common substitute for thatch in Southern India’ (Col. Yule).
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 17 (Y.). Flags … (by them called Cajans, being Co-coe-tree branches) … supplying … Coverings to their Cottages.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxiv. 294. His Palace … was … covered with Cadjans or Cocoa-nut Tree Leaves woven together.
1860. Tennent, Ceylon, II. 126 (Y.). Houses are … roofed with its plaited fronds, which, under the name of cadjans, are likewise employed for constructing partitions and fences.
2. ‘A strip of fan-palm leaf, i. e. either of the talipot, or of the palmyra, prepared for writing on; and so a document written on such a strip’ (Col. Yule). Also attrib., as in cadjan leaf, letter.
1707. in J. T. Wheeler, Madras in Olden Time, II. 78 (Y.). The officer at the Bridge Gate bringing in … a Cajan letter that he found hung upon a post. Ibid. (1716), II. 231 (Y.). The President … has intercepted a villainous letter or Cajan.
1840. A. Campbell, Code Madras Regul., 323. Vellum parchment or any other material instead of paper or cadjan leaf.
1853. J. W. B. Dykes, Salem, 355.
