[Hindī lāṭ, lāṭh.] a. A staff, pole (rare in Eng. use). b. Antiq. ‘An obelisk or columnar monument; specifically used for the ancient Buddhist columns of Eastern India’ (Yule).
1800. Asiatic Ann. Reg., Misc. Tracts, 313/2. A high pillar of stone called Bheem-lat, or the Tealee, or oilman’s lat or staff.
1876. J. Fergusson, Hist. Ind. & East. Archit., I. ii. 52. The oldest authentic examples of these lâts that we are acquainted with are those which King Asoka set up.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 18 Aug., 2/1. A bamboo lat descended on his skull.
