zenanahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zenana_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezenana, n. & adj.
Revised 2018

zenananoun & adjective

  1. noun
    1. 1.
      1761–
      Among some Muslim and Hindu communities, esp. in South Asia: an area in a house reserved for the use of the women of the household, access usually being prohibited to all adult men except close family members (cf. harem n. 1a). Also: the occupants of this area considered collectively; the female part of a household (cf. harem n. 2a).
      1. 1761
        I asked him where the Nabob was? Who replied, he was asleep in his Zenana.
        E. Coote, Letter 17 July in H. Vansittart, Narrative of Transactions in Bengal 1760–4 (1766) vol. I. 245
      2. 1776
        Sujah Dowlah..plundered all the goods..of Cossim Ally; he even infringed the rights of his Zenana.
        Trial of Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 66/2
      3. 1790
        The Jenanas or Women's apartments of principal Natives.
        in H. Yule & A. C. Burnell, Hobson-Jobson (1886) (at cited word)
      4. 1816
        Adjoining to the Chehel Sitoon is the harem; the term in Persia is applied to the establishments of the great, zenana is confined to those of the inferior people.
        J. Morier, Journey through Persia ix. 171
      5. 1881
        The ladies of his zenana had been subject to great indignities.
        H. Hensman, Afghan War xix. 272
      6. 1894
        It must not be supposed that Hindu ladies though living in the zenana do not exert any influence on the sterner sex.
        P. N. Bose, Hist. Hindu Civilisation during British Rule vol. I. iii. i. 114
      7. 1911
        A female sanitary inspector was also appointed... Access is obtained in this manner to zenanas and their occupants.
        British Medical Journal 4 February 276/2
      8. 1948
        Neither he nor his mother can stray far or frequently from the few rooms of the zenana.
        Southwestern Journal Anthropology vol. 4 134
      9. 1993
        Only two old aunts..and the widow of his other brother—no-one else remained of that whole busy zenana.
        V. Seth, Suitable Boy (1994) v. 285
      10. 2015
        While women are more evident in the more cosmopolitan cities of Islamabad and Lahore, in many parts of Pakistan they are almost invisible, rarely seen outside the zenana.
        Times (Nexis) 16 November 38
    2. 2.
      1890–
      Short for zenana cloth n. (a). Now rare.
      1. 1890
        One of the prettiest jackets was made out of a length of pale blue zenana.
        Darlington (Indiana) Echo 7 February
      2. 1895
        A cloth called ‘zenana’, which has the appearance of quilted silk lined with eiderdown.
        Penny Press (Mineapolis) 5 January 6/2
      3. 1900
        A bolero of pale blue zenana.
        Westminster Gazette 6 December 2/2
      4. 1939
        Zenana for gowns.
        Sun (Sydney) 7 May (Women's section) 40/1 (advertisement)
  2. adjective
    1. 1.
      1854–
      Of, for, or relating to a zenana or its occupants; (hence, more generally) relating to or intended for use by women only. Now chiefly historical.
      Originally with reference to evangelical, educational, and healthcare work carried out by female Christian missionaries in South Asia among women who practised purdah.
      1. 1854
        Those..looking forward to taking part either in a zenana mission..or in similar institutions throughout the country.
        Bombay Times 20 December 4955/3
      2. 1863
        A committee of ladies should be formed to carry out some scheme of zenana education.
        Evangelical Christendom 2 March 129/2
      3. 1876
        This society was organized in 1834, and was the first Woman's Missionary Society in England 'to attempt zunána work in India, and to send forth teachers for Hindú and Múhammaden zunánas'.
        J. L. Hauser, Orient & its People iv. 72
      4. 1881
        The Zenana missionary is met at the beginning of her work by just the same old inexorable customs, the same difficulties, the same woes.
        India's Women March 62
      5. 1949
        Dr Glanville was formerly medical officer at Bermondsey medical mission hospital and at Zenana hospitals at Amritsar and Peshawar.
        Times 16 September 2/4
      6. 1985
        Raja Din Dayal and Sons enterprisingly established a special Zenana Studio for Female Photography.
        S. C. Welch, India: Art & Culture 1300–1900 445
      7. 2015
        Georgiana Smail..had, in December 1881, come out from Scotland to assist Mary Pigot in zenana work.
        R. Seton in J. Becker, European Missions in Contact Zones iv. 246
    2. 2.
      1882–
      Designating a light, though warm, quilted or matelassé fabric used for women’s clothing (see zenana cloth n.); made of this fabric. Now rare.
      1. 1882
        For the spring trade, 1882... A nice assortment of the following..: Zenana sateens.
        Clarence & Richmond Examiner (Grafton, New South Wales) 22 August 3/3 (advertisement)
      2. 1896
        For bedroom use, what could be better and prettier than those zenana silk gowns of Liberty's?
        To-day 5 December 159/1
      3. 1922
        One of the new glossy zenana fabrics which are becoming so popular.
        Australasian (Melbourne) 2 December 1210/2
      4. 2001
        Fond memories of curling up in a zenana dressing-gown.
        L. Fronty, Well-kept Home 111

zenana, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.

zenana, n. & adj. was last modified in December 2024.