pettah

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil பேட்டை (pēṭṭai, “estate”).

Noun

pettah (plural pettahs)

1. (in Sri Lanka and southern India) A town, sometimes fortified, outside a fort.
   • 1830, James Welsh, Military Reminiscences, 2nd edition, volume 1:

     We had not hitherto seen the face of the enemy, but now the walls of both the Pettah —native town— and fort were lined with men whose arms glittered in the sun

References

• Dutt, Ashok K. Challenges to Asian urbanization in the 21st century, p. 60
• Fitchett, William Henry. Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, London: G. Bell, 1911.