military hotel

English

Etymology

Shortened from earlier Hindu military hotel, named so because they originally catered to Hindu non-vegetarians of the military.

Noun

military hotel (plural military hotels)

1. (South India) A restaurant serving non-vegetarian food. [from mid-20th c.]
   • 1954, Large Industrial Establishments in India‎^[1], Indian Labour Bureau, page 455:

     11 Gajendra Vilas Hindu Military Hotel, Alps Restaurant, Mount Road.

   • 1962, Jean Filliozat, India: The Country and Its Traditions:

     Mutton or chicken curries and various other non-vegetarian dishes are served in the Moslem restaurants and in those labelled in English "Military Hotel."

   • 2011 October 18, Shashi Tharoor, India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     The Star of India, as the board outside proclaimed, was a "military hotel"; in other words, it served meat, which my grandmother did not. "I am thinking you might be missing it," Charlis said, ushering me to a chair.