A low-ranking military officer or corporal in the Indian or former British Indian army; a group leader or headman in India.
From Hindi/Urdu 'naik,' related to Sanskrit 'nayaka' meaning 'leader.' Used in English since the colonial period for Indian military ranks.
A naik was like a sergeant or team leader in Indian regiments—the British military structure in India had ranks specific to the colonial system, and many Hindi words entered English military vocabulary!
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