(in oriental countries, esp India) a queen or princess; the wife of a rajah
Word origin
C17: from Hindi: queen, from Sanskrit rājñī, feminine of rājanrajah
ranee in American English
(ˈrɑːni, rɑːˈni)
noun(in India)
1.
the wife of a rajah
2.
a reigning queen or princess
Also: rani
Word origin
[1690–1700; ‹ Hindi rānī ‹ Skt rājñī queen (fem. deriv. of rājan king)]This word is first recorded in the period 1690–1700. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: catamaran, cocoon, freshen, lifeline, smash