E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pa’rias or Par’iahs.
The lowest class of the Hindu population, below the four castes. Literally drummers, from parai, a large drum.
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“The lodgers overhead may perhaps be able to take a more comprehensive view of public questions; but they are political Helots, they are the Pariahs of our constitutional Brahminism.”—The Times, March 20, 1867.
