Zamorins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical title used to denote the rulers of the Malabar region in India, particularly during the period of trade and colonial influence
2. Referring to the sovereigns of certain Indian princely states known for their political and military authority in the 15th to 17th centuries
3. Designating a lineage of kings recognized for their maritime power and influence over regional trade routes in southwestern India

Etymology: The title was borne by the rulers of Calicut (today Kozhikode) on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India, so the plural covers a series of holders of one office rather than several separate states. The Malayalam form, "samūtiri," is usually linked to "samudra," the Sanskrit word for "sea," so the title is often read as "lord of the sea," though the exact derivation is debated. Calicut's position as a major pepper and spice port gave its rulers wealth and maritime influence. European contact brought the title into Western languages. When Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498, the Portuguese recorded the ruler's title as "Samorim" or "Çamorin," and English writers later adopted the form "Zamorin" from that Portuguese usage. Its use in English dates from the early sixteenth century, and European accounts of the rulers, who were known for their naval power and their rivalry with the Portuguese, are the main source of the term's currency in English.