noun
- a large fan made of palm leaves or cloth hung from the ceiling and moved by a rope, used for cooling in hot climates
Usage: chiefly historical; originally from India
Examples
- The old colonial house still had a punkah in the main room.
- Servants would pull the punkah rope to create a cooling breeze.
- Before electric fans, the punkah was essential in tropical regions.
- The rhythmic swaying of the punkah provided relief from the heat.
- Many British colonial buildings featured punkahs in their design.