Anglo-Indian. [Corruption of Tamil Caṇakka-pi′ḷḷai account-man (pi′ḷḷai child, person).] A native clerk or writer in the Madras Presidency. (Yule.)
1680. Govt. Rec. Fort St. George, 21 Sept. III. 34 (Y. Supp.). The Governour … went the circuit of Madras ground, which was described by the Cancoply of the grounds, and lyes so intermixed with others … that ’tis impossible to be knowne to any others.
1718. trans. Ziegenbalg’s Lett., II. 55 (Y.). We maintain seven Kanakappel, or Malabarick writers.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 549. The conicopoly, to keep the accounts of the village.
1872. H. J. Coleridge, Xavier’s Life, II. 24 (Y.). You must appoint in each village or station fitting teachers and Canacopoly, as we have already arranged.
