DH and BH Are Unusual Beginnings Quiz

Answer: dharma

Dharma is a key concept in the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Because of this shared concept, these religions are often referred to as Dharmic religions. This Sanskrit word comes from a root meaning to hold or to support, and is related to Latin "firmus" (firm, stable).

Though a single-word translation of dharma in English or other Western languages does not exist, it can be roughly translated as righteousness or moral law, denoting the basic principles of existence that every being is required to follow. Dharma was first recorded in English in 1796.

Answer: dhole

The dhole (Canis alpinus) is a canid native to Asia, where it is found mainly in mountainous regions. It is characterized by its rusty-red coat and slender build, which has often been compared to that of a cat. Competing with the tiger for prey in its native range, it hunts in packs, and is much feared in India for its aggressive nature. In "Red Dog", one of the stories in Rudyard Kipling's "The Second Jungle Book", a pack of dholes attack the wolf pack that has adopted Mowgli, the man-cub, and kills its leader, Akela.

The etymology of the word dhole is still unclear. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it may be derived from "tola", meaning wolf in the Kannada language of southern India, though others have connected it with "deli", a Turkish word meaning crazy. Dhole was first attested in English in the early 19th century.

Answer: bhikkhu

Also spelled "bhikshu" or "bhikku", a bhikkhu is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism; the female equivalent is called a bhikkhuni. This word comes from the Pali (the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism) "bhikṣu", and means beggar, as originally Buddha and his followers adopted a life of poverty, wandering from town to town and living off alms. Bhikkhus are readily recognizable by their deep yellow, red or orange robes.

Bhikku was first attested in English in the early 19th century. In earlier texts, the French/Portuguese word of Japanese origin "bonze" was used to refer in particular to Chinese or Japanese Buddhist monks.

Answer: dhoti

A dhoti is a lower garment worn by men in India and neighbouring countries. Though sometimes referred to as a loincloth, it usually looks more like a pair of knee- or ankle-length pants. It consists of a rectangular length of unstitched cloth that is wrapped around the waist and the legs, then knotted in the front or tucked at the waist. Like the sari worn by women, it takes some practice and skill to arrange correctly; on the other hand, it is a very comfortable item of clothing that can be worn on many occasions.

The word dhoti comes from Hindi, and can also refer to the cloth used to make the garment. In English, especially in older texts, different spellings can be found - such as dotee or dhuttee. Dhoti has been used in English since the early 17th century.

Answer: bhangra

Blending the folk music of Punjab, a region in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent shared by India and Pakistan, with Western pop and disco music, bhangra originated in the 1970s in the UK city of Birmingham, home to a large Punjabi population. The genre, though controversial because of its non-traditional approach and commercial appeal, is very popular in the UK, Canada and the US, as well as other countries with sizable Punjabi communities.

Being a relatively recent phenomenon, bhangra was first attested in English in the 1980s. The word also denotes the traditional Punjabi folk dance from which the modern genre originated.

Answer: dhal

A staple of the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, dhal (also spelled dal or dahl) refers to either legumes in their split and dried form (which do not need to be soaked prior to cooking), or a dish of usually puréed legumes cooked with spices and sometimes other vegetables. Many kinds of dhal can be found in India: the most familiar in the West are split red lentils and yellow split peas. Being rich in nutrients, especially protein, dhal is very popular with vegetarians.

First attested in English in the late 17th century, dhal is a borrowing from Hindi that comes from a Sanskrit verbal root meaning to split.

Answer: bharal

Also known as blue sheep because of its slate-grey coat with a bluish sheen, the bharal (Pseudois nayaur) is a member of the sheep and goat family (caprines) that lives in the Himalayas and neighbouring mountain regions of South and East Asia. Its most distinctive feature are the large, curved horns of the males, which have been described as resembling an upside-down mustache. Preyed upon by snow leopards and Himalayan wolves, bharals are also occasionally hunted for their meat.

The word bharal comes from Hindi, and has been attested in English since the 1830s. In China these animals are called "yanyang".

Answer: dhow

Dhow is the only word featured in this quiz that does not come from a language of the Indian subcontinent. A dhow is a one- or two-masted, wooden sailing vessel with a lateen (triangular) sail, traditionally used in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean regions. Its name is believed by some to have originated from the Persian "dawh" (ship) through the Arabic "dawa". However, other experts maintain that the name comes from "daw", the Swahili word for vessel. Dhow was first attested in English in 1785.

Dhows have been used for centuries by fishermen and traders, and are still used today. They have often been depicted on stamps, coins, banknotes and heraldic devices of countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Qatar.

Answer: bhang

A drink made by mixing a paste (or powder) of ground cannabis leaves and flowering tops with milk or yogurt, water and spices, bhang has been used in religious ceremonies in India for thousands of years. The word is also used to refer to the paste itself, which is added to foods such as sweets and condiments, as well as beverages. In rural parts of the subcontinent, bhang is also believed to cure various ailments. Consumption of bhang is associated with Holi, the Hindu festival of spring.

The word bhang means hemp in Hindi and Urdu. It has been used in English since the mid-16th century.

Answer: bhaji

Lovers of Indian cuisine will be familiar with bhaji, tasty fritters usually served as an appetizer. Though the most common kind of bhaji found in Indian restaurants, especially in the UK, is made with onions, a wide variety of vegetables can be used. In the Indian subcontinent, bhajis are commonly sold in street stalls or roadside restaurants, and often eaten as snacks with a cup of tea or coffee.

The word bhaji comes from one of the major Indo-Aryan languages of India (according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Hindi, Marathi or Gujarati), and means fried greens or fried vegetables - an apt description of this dish. It was first attested in English in 1832.