In South Asian English, a doorkeeper, gatekeeper, or porter, especially in a building or institution.
From Persian and Urdu 'darwān' or Hindi 'darwān,' from 'dar' (door) plus an agentive suffix, literally meaning 'door-man.' Used throughout South Asia for security and custodial staff.
A durwan is a fixture of South Asian life—present in apartments, schools, and offices—yet the word barely exists in English dictionaries despite the crucial social role these gatekeepers play in that region's society.
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