punkah
Swinging overhead fan
A punkah is a large swinging fan, traditionally used in South Asia, suspended from the ceiling and operated by a servant pulling a cord.
The word evokes colonial-era India, where punkahs cooled rooms before electric fans: The punkah wallah pulled the rope while the officers dined.
Now largely historical.
Light, gentle air movement
- draftPreliminary version of text
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- waftDrift on air
fan · circulation · relief · heat · humidity · comfort · freshness · current
Flexible twisted strand
- ropeThick twisted fibers
- pulleyGrooved wheel for rope
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- flapOne-sided attached cover
ceiling · frame · cloth · canvas · pivot · suspension · overhead · hand-powered
Imperial rule over India
- verandaRoofed open-air porch
- bungalowOne-story house with porch
- memsahibColonial-era Indian honorific
- sahibIndian honorific for men
India · plantation · tropics · Anglo-Indian · Victorian era · East India Company · sepoy · empire
One employed to serve
- pullForce toward oneself
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- manual laborWork done bodily
- effortApplied energy toward goals
sweat · laborer · repetitive · shift · fatigue
breeze
Light, gentle air movement
- draftPreliminary version of text
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
waft · fan · circulation · relief · heat · humidity · comfort · freshness · current · blow
cord
Flexible twisted strand
flap · ceiling · frame · cloth · canvas · pivot · suspension · overhead · hand-powered · crank
British Raj
Imperial rule over India
sahib · India · plantation · tropics · Anglo-Indian · Victorian era · East India Company · sepoy · empire · expatriate
servant
One employed to serve
- pullForce toward oneself
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- manual laborWork done bodily