pollam
A district in India held in feudal tenure by a poligar.
Of the tracts situated in the Southern Carnatic, consisting of Tinnevelly and the Manapar pollams, and the two Marawars of Ramnad and Shevagunga, and the western pollams, the Madras presidency had collected the tribute since 1792.
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Tamil பாளையம் (pāḷaiyam), from Sanskrit प्लयति (playati, “he guards”), probably akin to Sanskrit पिपर्ति (piparti, “he brings over, rescues”).
Adapted from the Wiktionary entry pollam (CC BY-SA 4.0).