Word Study
vaisya
CIDE DICTIONARY
vaisya, n. [Skr. vai.].
The third of the four great original castes among the Hindus, now either extinct or partially represented by the mercantile class of Banyas. See the Note under Caste, 1. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
vaisya, n.
1 the third of the four great Hindu castes, comprising the merchants and agriculturalists.
2 a member of this caste.
1 the third of the four great Hindu castes, comprising the merchants and agriculturalists.
2 a member of this caste.
Etymology
Skr. vaisya peasant, labourer
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