Anglo-Indian. Forms: α. sowar. β. sooar, suwar, sewar. [Urdū (Pers.) sawār horseman.] A native horseman or mounted orderly, policeman, etc.; a native trooper, esp. one belonging to the irregular cavalry.
α. 1802. in C. James, Milit. Dict.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., xiii. The lighted match of the Sowar, or horseman, who rode before him.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 336. When a palanquin is escorted by a sowar, the sowar … rides on and gives notice that a lady, or gentleman,… is coming.
1883. F. M. Crawford, Mr. Isaacs, v. 92. The verandah, however, was crowded with servants and sowars.
β. 1819. Sporting Mag., IV. 172. A wild hog, which ran as hard as it could, away from us, pursued by a Sooar.
1834. [A. Prinsep], Baboo, I. viii. 125. My practised ear immediately knew that it was a single Suwar.
1844. New Monthly Mag., March, 435. A troop of sewars is generally placed under the orders of the collector of each district, for the purpose of carrying despatches, escort duty, &c.
