डेढ़

Meaning

One and a half; figuratively signifies something meager, odd, or stubbornly isolated.

Detailed Meaning

Literally denoting the fractional numeral 'one and a half', the term is famously used in the idiom 'deṛh īñṭ kī masjid' (a mosque of one and a half bricks) to signify eccentric individuality, separatism, or petty stubbornness. In this couplet, it mocks an obstinate refusal to join the mainstream community, advising the addressee to build their peculiar, insular domain far away in the wilderness.

Etymology

Sanskrit द्वि-अर्ध (dvi-ardha) > Prakrit diaddha > Hindi/Urdu deṛh.

Usage

In classical and modern poetry, it is most often invoked through the proverbial phrase 'deṛh īñṭ kī masjid' to satirize sectarianism, aloofness, or narrow-minded pride.

Examples

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Related Words