tawaif

noun /t̪ə.ʋɑː.ɪf/

1. A professional courtesan serving the nobility, especially under the Mughal Empire; (derogatory)

   historical

   ‘The tawaif has graduated from mere singing to dancing.’

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Hindustani (Hindi तवायफ़ (tavāyaf) / Urdu طَوائِف (tavāif)), in turn derived from Classical Persian طَوَائِف (tawā'if), ultimately derived from Arabic طَوائِف (ṭawāʔif).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry tawaif (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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