sindoor

English

Alternative forms

• sindhur, sindhuram, sindooram

Etymology

From Sanskrit सिन्दूर (sindūra, “red lead”).

Noun

sindoor (uncountable)

1. A traditional red or orange cosmetic powder from India, usually worn by Hindu women along the parting of the hair as a sign of marriage.
   • 2023, Chetna Maroo, Western Lane, Picador, page 27:

     After she’d brushed her hair and twisted it into a knot, she got her sindoor out of the cabinet. It was in a tiny, flat copper container, and the powder was bright red.

Anagrams

• in-doors, sordino, indoors, Doirons, Sondrio, Dorions