Also chowree. [a. Hindī chauṅrī, f. Skt. chāmara (Yule).] A whisk or fly-flapper, made of hair or feathers (prop. the bushy tail of the Tibetan Yak). ‘In a costly decorated handle, it was one of the insignia of ancient Asiatic royalty.’ In 17–18th c. commonly called by Englishmen cow-tail.
1777. Stewart, Thibet, in Phil. Trans., LXVII. 484. The tails … are used, mounted on silver handles, for Chowras.
c. 1816. Mrs. Sherwood, Stories Ch. Catech., xxvii. (1855), 283. A black woman was standing by her, beating away the flies with a choury.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., xiv. A confidential servant waved the great chowry, or cow-tail, to keep off the flies.
1881. J. Grant, Cameronians, I. iii. 42. No need for a chowree to whisk inside the curtains here, as in India.
