muhafa

English

Etymology

From Hindi मुहाफ़ा (muhāfā) and Urdu محافہ (muḥāfa), from Persian محافه (miḥâfah) and Arabic مِحَفَّة (miḥaffa), related to Arabic حَفَّ (ḥaffa, “to enclose, to border”).

Noun

muhafa (plural muhafas)

1. Alternative form of mihaffa.
   • 1848, Duncan Forbes, A Dictionary, Hindustani & English, page 483:

     muḥāfa, m. (properly mihaffa) a pālkī, a kind of litter in which women travel. a.

   • 1850 April 29, Robert Keith Pringle, Testimony of Sooleman Abdar, Proceedings of the Commission Appointed to Investigate the Conduct of His Highness Meer Allee Moorad:

     When this reply was reported to Meer Roostum Khan, he got into his muhafa and went to Meer Alli Moorad, who repeated to him that he had been put to great expense, which he must recover...

   • 1972, Abulhasan 'Ali Nadvi, The Musalman, page 42:

     The Muslim ladies who earlier moved out in covered palanquins, dolis and muhafas or completely veiled coaches and victorias are now obliged to go about in tongas, rikshaws and buses leaving aside the earlier scruples.