Brahmin

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Brahman \Brah"man\, Brahmin \Brah"min\, n.; pl. {Brahmans},
     {Brahmins}. [Skr. Br[=a]hmana (cf. Brahman worship, holiness;
     the God Brahma, also Brahman): cf. F. Brahmane, Brachmane,
     Bramine, L. Brachmanae, -manes, -mani, pl., Gr. ?, pl.]
     1. A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the
        Hindus.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Brahman bull} (Zool.), the male of a variety of the zebu, or
        Indian ox, considered sacred by the Hindus.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. a person from an old, respected, and usually wealthy
        family who has considerable social or political influence;
        -- a term used especially in New England; as, a Boston
        brahmin.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  brahmin
       n 1: a member of a social and cultural elite (especially a
            descendant of an old New England family); "a Boston
            Brahman" [syn: {brahman}]
       2: a member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas;
          "originally all brahmans were priests" [syn: {brahman}]
       3: the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal
          category [syn: {brahman}]
       4: any of several breeds of Indian cattle; especially a large
          American heat and tick resistant grayish humped breed
          evolved in the Gulf States by interbreeding Indian cattle
          and now used chiefly for crossbreeding [syn: {Brahman}, {Brahma},
           {Bos indicus}]