英和和英

名詞

Bannian (複数形 Bannians)

1. (archaic) A member of the vanika in the Indian caste system; a trader or merchant belonging to the business class.
   • 1749 — Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book III ch ii

     This species of men, from the great severity with which they revenge the death of a hare or partridge, might be thought to cultivate the same superstition with the Bannians in India; many of whom, we are told, dedicate their whole lives to the preservation and protection of certain animals; was it not that our English Bannians, while they preserve them from other enemies, will most unmercifully slaughter whole horse-loads themselves; so that they stand clearly acquitted of any such heathenish superstition.