> as lemmas

P2. Originally Irish History; later also Indian English. to fast against (also upon, on) (a person, later also a thing): (originally) to undertake a fast as a way of compelling payment, redress, or compliance from (a debtor, offender, etc.); (later also more generally) to protest against (something) with fasting. Originally used with historical reference to the practice of troscud in Early Irish law, in which a fast was typically undertaken at the door of the debtor, offender, etc. In later use also applied to the similar Indian practice of sitting dharna (dharna n.), in the context both of personal disputes and political protests.