Main Entry: Brah·man

Variant(s): or Brah·min \ˈbrä-mən; 2 is ˈbrā-, ˈbrä-, ˈbra-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English Bragman inhabitant of India, from Latin Bracmanus, from Greek Brachman, from Sanskrit brāhmaṇa of the Brahman caste, from brahman Brahman

Date: 15th century

1 a : a Hindu of the highest caste traditionally assigned to the priesthood b : ¹brahma 2
2 : any of an Indian breed of humped cattle : zebu; especially : a large vigorous heat- and tick-resistant usually silvery-gray animal developed in the southern United States from the zebu and now used chiefly for crossbreeding
3 usually Brahmin : a person of high social standing and cultivated intellect and taste <Boston Brahmans>

— Brah·man·ic \brä-ˈma-nik\ or Brah·man·i·cal \-ni-kəl\ adjective