Choora-- Pesh Kabz-- Definition

BBJW · 21st February 2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

In your PM to me you indicated that "choora" is " next" and that the mis-naming this dagger in European catalogues resulted from a comic misunderstanding.
Now we venture into something malevolent: castration, mutilation...
Which version is correct?

I had been given "choora" to mean "next" or "another". A friend of mine is now in Afghanistan so I asked him to ask his interpreter and that is what I found out. So I thought it interesting and posted the thread.

bbjw

ham · 21st February 2007, 04:25 PM

The gentleman in question was Lord Egerton of Tatton. Heard that story many years ago and it may well be true.

Ham

spiral · 21st February 2007, 05:00 PM

I guess another possible variable is whether Lord Eggerton helper was Afghani or Indian? {I would imagine most of his staff would be Indian?}

Choora is also used in India by Hindus as a derogatory term meaning, "low class" often used offensivly against people of lower castes/ class, or of course even "untouchables"

So perhaps Eggerton asked his Indian assitant "whats this?" & was told it was ""low class" the equivalent of "junk" perhaps?

Spiral

Berkley · 21st February 2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

The gentleman in question was Lord Egerton of Tatton

Interesting, as the word "choora" does not appear in the index or, so far as I can tell, the text of Egerton's Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour, although the term "Peshkabz" appears several times.

ariel · 21st February 2007, 10:03 PM

It is also called Shotor Kosh in Iran: "Camel Killer" or close to that.
Any funny stories about that name?

katana · 22nd February 2007, 12:59 AM

Interesting thread...it does make you wonder how many other weapons may have gained a 'universal' name because of mistakes in translation/ language difficulties, or as a result of a name given to a weapon that perhaps was very localised to a small area (and that person was asked by the 'researcher' what 'it' was) but had a different more common name over the entire region.

I think, if the 'story' of how the choora was so named, is true. It seems likely that this would be because of language difficulties, (or an abusive interpretor

)

If this knife was used for catration

surely there would be documented evidence.....AFAIK knights had a dagger called a bollock knife, it was used to pierce the relatively unprotected groin area......could this be perhaps a possibility in the manner it was used

Rick · 22nd February 2007, 01:09 AM

The Bollock Knife is named for the shape of its hilt I believe ....

21st February 2007, 04:25 PM	#2
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	The gentleman in question was Lord Egerton of Tatton. Heard that story many years ago and it may well be true. Ham

21st February 2007, 05:00 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I guess another possible variable is whether Lord Eggerton helper was Afghani or Indian? {I would imagine most of his staff would be Indian?} Choora is also used in India by Hindus as a derogatory term meaning, "low class" often used offensivly against people of lower castes/ class, or of course even "untouchables" So perhaps Eggerton asked his Indian assitant "whats this?" & was told it was ""low class" the equivalent of "junk" perhaps? Spiral

21st February 2007, 10:03 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It is also called Shotor Kosh in Iran: "Camel Killer" or close to that. Any funny stories about that name?

22nd February 2007, 12:59 AM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Interesting thread...it does make you wonder how many other weapons may have gained a 'universal' name because of mistakes in translation/ language difficulties, or as a result of a name given to a weapon that perhaps was very localised to a small area (and that person was asked by the 'researcher' what 'it' was) but had a different more common name over the entire region. I think, if the 'story' of how the choora was so named, is true. It seems likely that this would be because of language difficulties, (or an abusive interpretor ) If this knife was used for catration surely there would be documented evidence.....AFAIK knights had a dagger called a bollock knife, it was used to pierce the relatively unprotected groin area......could this be perhaps a possibility in the manner it was used

22nd February 2007, 01:09 AM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	The Bollock Knife is named for the shape of its hilt I believe ....