Home › Glossary › Letter B

bhisti

Noun
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A water carrier in the Indian army, often responsible for supplying water to troops.

Detailed Definition
In the context of the poem, a 'bhisti' refers to a water carrier who served in the Indian army, particularly during the British colonial period. Gunga Din, the protagonist, is depicted as a bhisti, highlighting his crucial role in providing water to soldiers in harsh conditions. The term is specialized and may not be familiar to readers who are not well-versed in historical military terminology or South Asian culture.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Was our regimental bhisti, Gunga Din,” from Kipling’s poem, uses bhisti for a South Asian water carrier; the word comes from a colonial military context and should be taught with attention to power and representation; “the bhisti brought water through dust and gunfire” clarifies the practical role; contemporary writing may prefer specific, respectful occupational and cultural context over exoticized imagery
Additional Notes
The word 'bhisti' is specialized military terminology that may not be known to many readers, as it specifically refers to a water carrier in the Indian army.; Found in the poem, Gunga Din by Rudyard Kipling
Also Known As
Water Carrier Hydrator Bhishti
Skip to main content