noun
- A water carrier or laborer in India, especially one employed to supply water for domestic or military use.
Usage: historical; chiefly British Indian English; also spelled 'bhisti' or 'bheesty'
Examples
- The bhistie delivered fresh water to the colonial household each morning.
- During the British Raj, every military camp employed several bhisties to maintain water supplies.
- The bhistie carried large leather bags filled with water through the streets of the garrison town.