purdah
- noun
- /ˈpərdə/
- Indian
- The concept of purdah reflects the traditional practice of keeping women secluded from public view.
Examples
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She explored a range of topics including women's education, divorce, purdah and the ways that Indian families responded to population growth.
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In some cultures, purdah involves women using a purdah to maintain their privacy from men and strangers.
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You know the purdah?
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Walking past the purdah, I was careful not to intrude on the women's private space.
Synonyms
The practice of separating men and women into different places or groups
Women staying out of public view in some communities so men who are not relatives do not see them
Compounds
- Indian
Women staying out of public view in some communities so men who are not relatives do not see them
How Private
Surface Forms
Etymology
Purdah comes from the Persian word pardah meaning 'curtain', and it reached English through Hindi and Urdu. So a purdah is a 'curtain' or screen used to separate or hide women from men.