E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fakir’ (Indian).
A poor man, a mendicant, a religious beggar. The Fakirs are the lowest in the priesthood of Yesidis. They wear coarse black or brown dresses, and a black turban over which a red handkerchief is tied. Fakirs perform all menial offices connected with burials. They clean the sacred building, trim and light the lamps, and so on.
