Pahari
/pəˈhɑːri/noun
1In South Asia: a person from the hills; specifically a member of any of a number of peoples inhabiting the Himalayan regions of Nepal and northern India.
- Now technically restricted to peoples of Indo-Aryan origin..
2Any of a group of northern Indo-Aryan languages or their dialects spoken by the Paharis, including Western Pahari, Kumaoni and Garhwali, and Nepali.
adjective
Of, relating to, or designating the Paharis or their languages. Also more generally: of or characteristic of the hill or mountain regions of northern India.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Bacon (1813–1892). From Hindi (and other local vernaculars) pahāṛī of or from the hills, native or inhabitant of the hills from pahāṛ mountain area + Hindi -ī, suffix forming adjectives and derived nouns.