a covered litter, formerly used in S Asia, carried on the shoulders of four bearers
Word origin
C16: from Portuguese palanquim, from Prakrit pallanka, from Sanskrit paryanka couch
palanquin in American English
(ˌpælənˈkin)
noun
(formerly in India and other Asian countries)
a passenger conveyance, usually for one person, consisting of a covered or boxlike litter carried by meansof poles resting on the shoulders of several bearers