naik
noun
na·ik
ˈnä|ik
variants or less commonly naig or naigue or naique or nayak
|ig
|ˌēg
|ˌēk
|yək
plural -s
1
: a leader, chief, or governor in India —used as a title of authority or form of address
2
: a native subordinate officer in the British India army
specifically : corporal
Word History
Etymology
Hindi nāyak, from Sanskrit nāyaka, literally, leader, from nayati he leads; akin to Middle Irish nē, nīa warrior, hero, Avestan nayeiti he leads, brings, Hittite nāi- to control, lead