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Glite Dictionary
kirpan

kirpan

1 9.9
A small curved knife that Sikhs wear as a symbol of their faith
  • noun
  • /kɪrˈpɑn/
: kirpan
  • During the ceremony, he proudly displayed his kirpan, which is an important symbol in Sikhism.

Examples

  • As part of their faith, Sikh men and women wear a kirpan to symbolize their commitment to justice.

  • Operation 'Sahayata' was launched, under which two ships, INS Rana and INS Kirpan, carried relief goods, and two Indian Air Force aircraft (IAF) provided substantial assistance by supplying shelter materials, other relief goods, and medical personnel.

    Academic text (2018)

  • The kirpan is not just a dagger; it represents the values of courage and protection in Sikh culture.

Surface Forms

kirpan singular
kirpans plural

Etymology

The word kirpan comes from the Punjabi word kirpān and an older Sanskrit word krapana, both meaning 'dagger' or 'small sword'. That's why a kirpan today is a small ceremonial knife that Sikhs wear as a sign of their faith and their duty to protect others.