punchayet

Everyday

1. (India) A village council, traditionally of five elders, that settles disputes and runs local affairs. tree →
2. (Kipling, Just So Stories) A meeting or council of animals to decide a matter. tree →

In the lessons

From Hindi «panch» (five). Kipling, who grew up in India, uses Indian words in the Just So Stories and The Jungle Book. In geography and civics lessons on India, the panchayat is still the local village government.

Examples

• The punchayet met under the big tree to decide. tree →
• The village panchayat settled the quarrel over water. tree →
• In the story, the animals held a punchayet. tree →
• The elders of the punchayet listened to both sides. tree →
• Today India has thousands of elected panchayats. tree →
• Kipling uses old Indian words like «punchayet». tree →

Note

The usual modern spelling is «panchayat». It is a word from India, not general English.