BANIAN
banyan, banian
(noun) a loose fitting jacket; originally worn in India
banyan, banyan tree, banian, banian tree, Indian banyan, East Indian fig tree, Ficus bengalensis
(noun) East Indian tree that puts out aerial shoots that grow down into the soil forming additional trunks
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
banian (plural banians)
Alternative spelling of banyan
Source: Wiktionary
Ban"ian, n. Etym: [Skr. banij merchant. The tree was so named by the
English, because used as a market place by the merchants.]
1. A Hindoo trader, merchant, cashier, or money changer. [Written
also banyan.]
2. A man's loose gown, like that worn by the Banians.
3. (Bot.)
Definition: The Indian fig. See Banyan. Banian days (Naut.), days in which
the sailors have no flesh meat served out to them. This use seems to
be borrowed from the Banians or Banya race, who eat no flesh.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition