chowkidar

noun

chow·​ki·​dar

¦chau̇kē¦där

variants or less commonly chokidar

¦chōkē¦där

or chaukidar

¦chau̇kē¦där

plural -s also chokidars or chaukidars

India

: watchman

He asked why the Prime Minister, who called himself the country's chowkidar or watchman, was allowing illegalities to take place.

—The Hindustan Times, 30 June 2015

especially : a private watchman (as at a gate)

Word History

Etymology

Hindi caukīdār, from caukī police station, guard's post + -dār possessing

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