gomashta

G2O1M3A1S1H4T1A1

noun

A native Indian clerk or steward.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

noungomashta (plural gomashtas)

plural gomashtas · alternative gomasta · alternative gomushta · alternative gomusta · alternative gumasta · alternative gumashta · alternative gumusta · alternative gomashtah · alternative gomastah · alternative gomustah · alternative gumastah · alternative gumashtah · alternative gumustah

  1. IndiahistoricalA native Indian clerk or steward.

    This met with no response and nor did the gomusta require any.

    2008, Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies, Penguin, published 2015
    2 more examples

    In Bengal, and particularly among the English, the word gomastah is confined, in a partial sense, to those Hindoos who are sent by the Company's servants into the inland-country, furnished with dustucks, to buy or sell goods, on stipulated monthly wages; without drawing commission, or having the liberty to trade on their own account. But among the natives of Hindostan, in the more general acceptation, the word gomastah is indiscriminately used for every sort of representative, or agent; from the ambassador down to the merchant's clerk, or even the foreman of a manufactory.

    1775, William Bolts, Considerations on India Affairs, Part II, London, page 152

    But the gomashta now realized that there were other ways of obtaining reparation - and also making money for himself.

    2005, Mike Dash, Thug, Granta, published 2006, page 142

Origin

  1. Persianگماشته“appointed, delegated”
  2. Urdu[Term?]
  3. Hindi[Term?]
  4. Englishgomashta

From Hindi [Term?], Urdu [Term?], from Persian گماشته (“appointed, delegated”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

gomashta. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gomashta

MLA

“gomashta.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gomashta. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gomashta,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gomashta.

Source: gomashta on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.