pollam

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil பாளையம் (pāḷaiyam), from Sanskrit प्लयति (playati, “he guards”), probably akin to Sanskrit पिपर्ति (piparti, “he brings over, rescues”).

Noun

pollam (plural pollams)

1. A district in India held in feudal tenure by a poligar.
   • 1828, The East Indian gazetteer, volume 1, page 363:

     Of the tracts situated in the Southern Carnatic, consisting of Tinnevelly and the Manapar pollams, and the two Marawars of Ramnad and Shevagunga, and the western pollams, the Madras presidency had collected the tribute since 1792.