Punjab
/pʌnˈdʒɑːb/ proper noun
Forms Panjab Panjaub
- proper noun A geographical region of South Asia, divided (by the Radcliffe Line) between India and Pakistan. Pakistani Punjab includes the (West) Punjab Province and parts of the Islamabad Capital Territory; Indian Punjab includes (East) Punjab State and some other territories.
- proper noun A state in northern India. Capital: Chandigarh. Largest city: Ludhiana.
- proper noun A province in Pakistan. Capital: Lahore.
Etymology
From Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬ / پنجاب (pañjāb), from Classical Persian پَنْجَاب (panjāb, “[Land of] the Five Rivers”), from پَنْج (panj, “five”) and آب (āb, “water”), referring to five rivers of the Punjab region: the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Sutlej and the Beas. The Persian term is a calque of Sanskrit पञ्चनद (pañcanada, “[Land of] the Five Rivers”), from पञ्च (pañca, “five”) and नद (nada, “river”). Related to punch (“beverage made of mixed fruit juice”).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “Punjab”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details