A social outcast; someone who is avoided or rejected by society. Originally, a member of a low caste in southern India.
From Tamil பறையர் (paṟaiyar), the plural of பறையன் (paṟaiyan) meaning 'drummer', referring to a caste whose traditional occupation was beating drums at festivals and ceremonies. The word entered English through Portuguese paria in the 17th century when European colonizers encountered this community in Tamil-speaking regions. The term's meaning expanded from a specific caste designation to any social outcast or reject.
Ironically, the 'pariahs' were originally the music makers - the drummers who provided rhythm for celebrations! The transformation from 'drummer' to 'outcast' reflects how colonial encounters and caste prejudices shaped the English language's understanding of Indian society.
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