Jemadar is a South Asian word that originated from the pre-colonial Mughal Empire. It refers to a senior grade of native officer in the British Indian Army. The spelling of "jemadar" is pronounced as /ˈdʒɛmədɑː/ in IPA phonetic transcription. It is noteworthy that the word is often misspelled as "jamadar" or "jemedar" due to the inconsistency of its transliteration from its Urdu/Hindi equivalent. It is essential to maintain the correct spelling of the word to avoid any confusion in historical texts or official documentation.
The word "jemadar" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent during the times of British colonial rule. It comes from the Hindi word "jamādār", which means "a military or police officer". The term was later anglicized and incorporated into the British military system.
The Hindi word "jamādār" itself has Persian roots. It is derived from the Persian word "Jamadar", which translates to "a leader of ten men" or "subordinate officer". This term was used in Mughal India to refer to a military rank or position.
During the British colonization of India, the word "jemadar" was adopted by the British East India Company's military forces, and later by the British Indian Army. It became a specific rank in the infantry, roughly equivalent to a subedar or subaltern officer.