Hindi
hazur term of respect, inert conversational response (literally ‘presence’)
machan elevated platform for hunting or watching game
Iban
Pengara senior headman of a district
Indonesian
bakwan vegetable fritters
dalang proverbial puppet master
krupuk udang prawn crackers
Permuda Fatherland Defence Force fighters
tempeh deep-fried, fermented soya beans
Japanese
genchi shobun on-the-spot punishment
genju shobun punishment by law
romusha forced labour
Malay
atap palm thatch, Nipa fruticus
jalan road, street
kampong village
-lah tag for emphasis
makan food
Mat Salleh name Malays give to Europeans
orang man
parang chopper, knife
seladang wild bison, Bos gauruss
Selamat petang Good evening
songkok hat
Terima kasih thank you
tuan official, ‘sir’
Nepali (Gurkhali)
chamché one like a spoon, can turn either way
daku ‘dacoit’, guerrilla
keta lad
gaur wild bison, Bos gaurus
gora fair-skinned, word for British troops
hajur term of respect, inert conversational response (literally ‘presence’)
hunchha is, okay
-ji/-jyu polite suffixes, used after a person’s name
Major-ba one way of addressing a Gurkha
Company Sergeant Major