serang
/səˈraŋ
/noun Indian
An Asian head of a lascar crew.A serang is a person of importance, far above a stoker, though the stoker draws better pay....
- The food belonged to Pambe, the serang or head man of the lascar sailors.
Origin
From Persian and Urdu sar-hang 'commander', from sar 'head' + hang 'authority'.