| No. | English word | Meaning in English | Origin from Tamil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | anicut | a dam or weir built across a river | From Tamil aṇaikattu / அணைக்கட்டு, literally a dam or embankment. (Tamil University) |
| 2 | betel | the leaf chewed with areca nut | Commonly traced to Tamil veṟṟilai / வெற்றிலை, though it likely came into English through Portuguese. (Tamil University) |
| 3 | cash | money; originally a small coin in South India | Linked to Tamil kācu / காசு, meaning a coin. (Tamil University) |
| 4 | catamaran | a twin-hulled boat | From Tamil kaṭṭumaram / கட்டுமரம், literally “tied logs.” (Tamil University) |
| 5 | cheroot | a cigar open at both ends | From Tamil curuṭṭu / சுருட்டு, meaning “rolled”; the word passed into English through French. (Tamil University) |
| 6 | coir | coconut fiber used for rope, mats, etc. | Often linked to Tamil kayiru / கயிறு “rope,” though Malayalam is also often cited. (Wikipedia) |
| 7 | congee | rice gruel or rice porridge | From Tamil kañci / கஞ்சி, meaning rice gruel. (Tamil University) |
| 8 | corundum | a very hard mineral, used as an abrasive or gemstone base | Commonly traced to Tamil kurundam / குருந்தம் or a related Tamil form. (Wikipedia) |
| 9 | curry | a spiced sauce or dish | From Tamil kari / கறி, meaning sauce, relish, or spiced dish. (Tamil University) |
| 10 | godown | a warehouse or storage building | Commonly linked to Tamil kiṭaṅku / கிடங்கு, though the transmission may have passed through Malay. (Wikipedia) |
| 11 | gingelly | sesame | From Tamil eḷ / எள் by an old trade route form; in English it came to mean sesame. This etymology is commonly cited but not always presented in exactly the same way by lexicographers. (Wikipedia) |
| 12 | kabaddi | the South Asian contact sport | Commonly identified as from Tamil kai-piṭi / கைப்பிடி or related Dravidian forms; this one is more debated than words like catamaran or curry. (Wikipedia) |
| 13 | mango | the tropical fruit | From Tamil māṅgāy / மாங்காய், probably through Portuguese. (Tamil University) |
| 14 | moringa | the drumstick tree genus | Commonly linked to Tamil murungai / முருங்கை. (Wikipedia) |
| 15 | mulligatawny | a soup originally based on pepper-water | From Tamil miḷagu taṇṇīr / மிளகுத் தண்ணீர், literally “pepper water.” (Tamil University) |
| 16 | mung / mung bean | a small green bean | Sometimes linked to Tamil-related routes, but this is more disputed because Hindi and Sanskrit pathways are also cited. (Wikipedia) |
| 17 | pandal | a temporary ceremonial pavilion or shelter | From Tamil paṇṭal / பந்தல், meaning a shed or temporary structure. (Tamil University) |
| 18 | pariah | an outcast; historically also the name of a community | From Tamil paṟaiyar / பறையர். (Wikipedia) |
| 19 | patchouli | a fragrant plant and perfume scent | From Tamil pacchai ilai / பச்சை இலை, literally “green leaf,” according to the commonly cited origin. (Tamil University) |
| 20 | pagoda | a temple tower in Asia; also an old coin name in India | Often linked to Tamil pagavadi / பகாவடி or a related form; this etymology is uncertain. (Wikipedia) |
| 21 | teak | a tropical hardwood tree | From Tamil tēkku / தேக்கு, probably through Portuguese. (Tamil University) |
| 22 | tom-tom | a drum; also a drumbeat | Commonly connected with Tamil tam-tam / தம்-தம் imitative drum sound forms; not among the most certain examples. (Wiktionary) |
| 23 | vetiver | a fragrant grass used in perfume and mats | From Tamil veṭṭivēr / வெட்டிவேர், literally “cut root.” (Wikipedia) |
| 24 | bandy | a kind of cart or carriage in older Anglo-Indian usage | Commonly traced to Tamil vaṇṭi / வண்டி, meaning cart or vehicle. (Wikipedia) |
| 25 | copra | dried coconut kernel | Often linked to Tamil kopparai / கொப்பரை, though Malayalam is also frequently mentioned in dictionaries. (Wikipedia) |
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