Words of Indian Origin Trivia Quiz

Answer: juggernaut

The word, "juggernaut", meaning a massive, unstoppable force, comes from one of the names with Vishnu is worshipped, Jagannath, especially in the eastern city of Puri. Here, an annual chariot ceremony sees the idol of Jagannath being placed in a massive wooden chariot and dragged around the streets of the city by devotees.

Some devotees used to throw themselves under this chariot, believing that death this way would help their souls attain eternal bliss in Vaikunta, Vishnu's abode. However, this practice is less popular now and the devotees are content with a piece of wood from the chariot after it is dismantled. (I must thank funtrivia player, vpatnaik, for providing me the correct information on the event which occurs in his home state.;))

Answer: pariah

The word 'pariah', meaning outcast, originates from the untouchable caste, "Pariyan", who were found all across the erstwhile Madras Presidency.

Answer: mulligatawny

Mulligatawny is a composite of two Tamil words, "molaga" and "tanni", meaning pepper and water, respectively. It gained popularity with the British who settled in India and travelled to England, and to the English language, along with those who went home.

Answer: Shampoo

The historian, Strabo, in his account on India in the 4th century BC, mentions the Indian use of a shampoo or a kind of paste which has been ground out of certain herbs and plants.
Source: http://metalrg.iisc.ernet.in/~wootz/heritage/prod1.html

Answer: Zen

While the word "zen" is easily associated with Eastern languages, its roots can be found in Sanskrit, from the word "Dhyana", which means meditation or silence. "Dhyana" is used to denote a form of worship where one meditates on the form of the Supreme to attain inner peace and tranquility.
Source: http://www.orientalthane.com/history/news_2004_07_01.htm

Answer: Punch

"The origin of this drink is not widely known. Even the Oxford Dictionary states its origin as unknown. But as per another dictionary of words of Indian origin in the English language the word Punch is derived from the Indian word Pancham which means five in Sanskrit and which was the name of this beverage due to the five ingredients it has.

The addition of spices and even sugar and lime betray the oriental origin of this beverage. Spices are a typically Indian commodity. Thus the origin of this popular European drink of today seems to lie in India of either medieval or ancient times.

The name Punch also supports this claim as in no European language is any word as similar to Punch used for the number five as is the Sanskrit Pancham." Source:http://metalrg.iisc.ernet.in/~wootz/heritage/prod1.html

Answer: dinghy

A small boat, sometimes called a "dinghy" gets its name from the Hindi word for such a kind of boat, "Dingi" or "Dengi". Source:http://www.orientalthane.com/history/news_2004_07_01.htm

Answer: Brahmin

"Boston Brahmins, or simply 'Brahmins'-sometimes also called the First Families of Boston-are a blue-blooded class of New Englanders who claim hereditary or cultural descent from the Anglo-Saxon Protestants (commonly called WASPs) who founded the city of Boston, Massachusetts and originally settled New England. They are part of the historic core of the East Coast Establishment, along with wealthy families of New York and Philadelphia."
(Source:http://www.wordiq.com)
Of course, Brahmins are placed topmost on the caste system ladder in India, though not necessarily all over the country.

Answer: False

That was a googly (or a curveball or Beckham or equivalent ball sport term to describe ball which acts like drunk driver on highway), but India Ink actually originates from China, and is prepared from carbon black. It is the usual kind of ink one uses in pens and in printing.

Answer: You get outsourced

Bangalored refers to having one's job outsourced to India by the parent company to cut costs. Bangalore, emerging as the growing hub of IT and BPO related outsourcing, was almost synonymous with the outsourcing boom in India and hence, the word. Bangalore entered the English language earlier with the invention of the "Bangalore torpedo", used to destroy barb-wire fortifications (as seen in "Saving Private Ryan") by Army engineers. My hometown has gained a reputation in US media circles of late, so much so that John Kerry wants American cities to become "wired" like Bangalore. I don't think he was referring to the Bangalore of power cuts, clogged roads and inept local bodies, but its nice to know that ignorant American politicians think your city is great;)Source: http://www.worldwidewords.org/turnsofphrase/tp-ban1.htm.