A person from Gorkha or a Nepalese soldier, particularly one who served in the British or Indian armies.
From Gorkha, a region in Nepal, with -li or -i suffix indicating origin or belonging. The term became famous through the Gurkha (British spelling) regiments formed in the 19th century.
The Gurkhas became legendary soldiers partly because British military recruitment officers specifically sought Nepalese men from the Gorkha hills, believing they had natural warrior qualities—this created an enduring stereotype that shaped military history.
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