Also burkendoss. [Arabo-Pers. barq-andāz lightning-darter.] ‘A matchlock man, but commonly applied to a native of Hindustan, armed with a sword and shield, who acts as doorkeeper, watchman, guard, or escort’ (H. H. Wilson, Gloss. Judicial Terms).
1781. Ann. Reg., 14/1. He … prepared 500 cavalry and 500 burkendosses … for this purpose.
1845. Stocqueler, Handbk. Brit. India (1854), 68. The force is sufficiently large, consisting, as it does, of thousands of thannadars, chokeedars, burkundauzes, pykes, &c. &c.
1848. G. Wyatt, Revel. of Orderly (1849), 20. A poor devil of a burkundaz.
