Balahi

noun

Ba·​la·​hi

bəˈlähē

plural Balahi or Balahis

1

: an ethnic group among the untouchables inhabiting Madhya Pradesh state, India, who once were spinners and weavers but have become predominantly farm laborers for the cultivating castes

2

: a member of the Balahi

Word History

Etymology

Hindi balāhī

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!