akharan.
/ɑːkˈhɑːrə/, /ɑːˈkɑːrə/, U.S. /ɑkˈhɑrə/, /ɑˈkɑrə/ 1. In India: a wrestling ring or pit; a gymnasium or outdoor exercise area.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > place for wrestling
palaestrac1425
wrestling placec1440
fighting-school1535
list1589
wrestling ring1695
akhara1832
wrestling school1835
1832 J. Tod Ann. & Antiq. Rajast'han II. 589 Zalim and his court were assembled in the akhara (arena) where two of these stall-fed prize-fighters were about to contend.
1905 J. J. M. Innes Life & Times Gen. Sir James Browne iv. 51 He had been a keen student of native athletics—a noted performer in the akhara, as the wrestling-ground of the Sepoy and other native gymnasts is called.
1953 S. C. Dube India's Changing Villages ii. 53 Under the auspices of the Project, twenty-eight gymnasiums and akharas were started.
1992 Amer. Ethnologist 19 319 An akhara is regarded as a sacred precinct and wrestlers are careful to maintain the compound with an eye toward purity.
2003 Indian Express (Nexis) 17 Nov. These gyms charge money. But an akhara is free for anyone.
2. Also with capital initial. In India: a convent or monastery, esp. of ascetics. Also: an order of ascetics or monks; spec. such a group forming a militant or armed regiment (now chiefly historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > monastic property (general) > monastery or convent > [noun]
minstereOE
monklifeeOE
clausterc1000
abbotricOE
house?a1160
anchor-house?c1225
religion?c1225
abbeyc1300
nunneryc1300
house (also abbey) of religiona1325
nunryc1325
closterc1330
cloister1340
monasterya1425
monk-house?c1475
friars1479
convent1528
guild1546
prioressy1575
abbey-stead1620
minchery1710
reclusory1821
akhara1838
house of piety1838
kloster1844
1838 R. M. Martin Hist. E. India I. i. iv. 202 Not only the convents occupied by those who remain single are called Akharas; but the same name is given to the house occupied by those who have married.
1909 J. C. Oman & W. C. Oman Cults, Customs, & Superstitions India 97 Here my companions pointed out to me the backs of certain akharas (Sikh monasteries).
1978 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 98 75 The various akhārās of warrior ascetics among the Dasnāmīs and Vaiṣṇavas deteriorated and eventually lost all except ceremonial functions.
1989 K. Narayan Storytellers, Saints, & Scoundrels ix. 221 An akhārā is where militant Naga ascetics live together.
2004 Hindu (Nexis) 23 Apr. The second shahi snan began..with the sadhus belonging to the different Akharas taking the holy dip.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1832