नायकीण

Derived from Old Marathi 𑘡𑘰𑘧𑘎𑘲 (nāyakī, “mistress”), from Sanskrit नायिका (nāyikā). By surface analysis, नायक (nāyak) +‎ -ईण (-īṇ).

• IPA^(key): /naj.kiɳ/, [naj.kiːɳ]
• Rhymes: -iɳ
• Hyphenation: नाय‧कीण

नायकीण • (nāykīṇ) f (plural नायकिणी)

1. harlot, prostitute, dancing girl

   Synonyms: वेश्या (veśyā), गणिका (gaṇikā), रंडी (raṇḍī)

2. (dated) the mistress of an establishment; a woman who commands authority
3. (obsolete) the wife of a chief

• Berntsen, Maxine (1982–1983) “नायकीण”, in A Basic Marathi-English Dictionary, New Delhi: American Institute of Indian Studies
• Molesworth, James Thomas (1857) “नायकीण”, in A dictionary, Marathi and English, Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's Press
• Shankar Gopal Tulpule, Anne Feldhaus (1999) “नायकी”, in A Dictionary of Old Marathi, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan