East Ind. Forms: 7 calaat, collat, 8 kall-, kellaut, 8–9 khilat, khelaut, 9 khelat, khellât, khillaut, calatte, (khelut, khillut, killut, -laut). [Urdū (Pers.) khilsat, khalsat, a. Arab. khilsah (-at).] A dress of honor presented by a king or other dignitary as a mark of distinction to the person receiving it; hence, any handsome present made by an acknowledged superior.
1684. J. Phillips, trans. Tavernier’s Trav., I. III. v. 108. The Garment of Honour, or the Calaat, the Bonnet, and Girdle.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 87. He had a Collat or Seerpaw, a Robe of Honour from Head to Foot, offered him from the Great Mogul.
1774. Bogle, in Markham, Narr. Mission Tibet (1876), 25. A flowered satin gown was brought me. I was dressed in it as a khilat.
1803. Edmonstone, in Owen, Mrq. Wellesley’s Desp. (1877), 325. He is admitted to the privilege of investing the Peishwa with a khelaut.
1845. Stocqueler, Handbk. Brit. India (1854), 239. The king … maintains the royal privilege of conferring khillauts.
1876. Jas. Grant, Hist. India, I. xxxvii. 191/1. No peishwa could be appointed without first receiving the khelat.
1886. Yule & Burnell, Anglo-Ind. Gloss., Killut, Killaut.
