Definition of "havildar" [‖Hav•il•dar]

• A military rank of the British Indian Army and of the modern armies of India and Pakistan, equivalent to sergeant. (noun)

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• "But Speedy swore by them, and to my gratification their havildar was a leathery veteran from the Mogala country who claimed to remember “Bloody Lance ", as he addressed me, pouring out the old tale of how Ifflass-mann slaughtered the four Gilzais — so much lying tommy-rot, you understand, but I dare say I could still dine out on it in the caravanserais along the Jugdulluk road."
• "Whiting swore, and struggled with him, but the mutineer - a big, black-moustached havildar with a Chillianwallah medal - threw him down and wrested his musket away."
• "What happened was that the havildar-major came along the rank, with two naiks carrying big bags of cartridges, of which he offered three to each skirmisher."