In South Asia: a peasant, husbandman, or cultivating tenant.
Origin
Early 17th century; earliest use found in Samuel Purchas. From Urdu raʿīyat (agricultural) peasant and its etymon Persian raʿīyat subject population, peasants (usually collectively; now hist.) from Arabic raʿīyat-, raʿīya herd, flock, a ruler's subjects.