Sepoy

noun

/ˈsiːpɔɪ/

A native Indian soldier serving in the army of a European colonial power, particularly the British East India Company and later the British Indian Army.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Revolt of 1857, sparked by the grievances of the sepoy in the Company's army, exposed how a regime that relied on Indian manpower while disregarding Indian sentiment had sown the seeds of its own legitimacy crisis.

Synonyms

soldierinfantrymantrooperprivatefootsoldierserviceman

Antonyms

officercommanderciviliangeneral

🌱 Word Family

sepoys (n pl), sipahi (n alt. form)

🔡 Root

Classical Persian sipāhī (سپاهی) = horseman, soldier (from sipāh = army); via Urdu/Hindi sipāhī; borrowed into English via Portuguese sipae

📜 Etymology

From Portuguese sipae, from Urdu/Hindi sipāhī (सिपाही / سپاہی, "soldier"), from Classical Persian sipāhī (سپاهی, "horseman, soldier"), from sipāh (سپاه, "army"); the term was widely used from the 18th century in British India.

🧠 Memory Hook

Link "Sepoy" to "see a boy" in uniform marching, or recall the Persian root sipah = "army": a sepoy is an army-man. The 1857 "Sepoy Mutiny" cements it as an Indian soldier under British command.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: The Revolt of 1857

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