Comments on: First Rate and Second Rate in the Raj

Question: First Rate and Second Rate in the Raj

alms — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:02:20 -0800

I'm looking for two Indian (Hindi?) words that mean "high quality" and "low quality" and were used, for example, during the Brittish Raj to describe building construction as first rate or second rate.

I believe one of the words may have been "kappa" or "chappa."

By: the cuban

the cuban — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:04:38 -0800

pukka?

By: alms

alms — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:07:47 -0800

Yes, that's the first one! Now, what's the contrasting term, meaning "second rate"?

By: the cuban

the cuban — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:13:02 -0800

kutcha?

By: the cuban

the cuban — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:14:26 -0800

got that 2nd one from here

By: stirfry

stirfry — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:38:35 -0800

Kaccha and pukka. One meaning is "unripe" and "ripe".

By: alms

alms — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:55:15 -0800

Thanks all, this is great. I've been trying to remember these words literally for years.

By: AmbroseChapel

AmbroseChapel — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 14:39:08 -0800

You're obviously not familiar with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who never stops using the word "pukka".