East Ind. Also 8 killahdaur, 8–9 kelli-, kille-, keeledar. [Urdū (Pers.) qilsadār, f. Arab. qalsah (pl. qilās) fort + Pers. -dār holder.] The commandant or governor of a fort or castle.
1778. Orme, Hist. Indostan, II. 217. The fugitive garrison … returned, with 500 more, sent by the Kellidar of Vandiwash.
1783. Hist. Eur., in Ann. Reg., 97/1. The killedar or governor, with his rabble … fled into the fort.
1803. Wellington, Lett. to Col. Murray, 16 July, in Gurw., Desp. (1837), II. 95. It is imagined that the Killadar of Perinda is not unfaithful to the Nizam’s government.
1862. Beveridge, Hist. India, I. III. xi. 622. The native governor or killedar.
Hence Killadary, the governorship of a fort.
1803. Wellington, in Desp. (1844), I. 355. The letters respecting the killadary of Darwar.
