palanquin

noun

1. (India, historical)An enclosed human-borne litter or sedan chair, a large box with a chair, couch, or bed raised on horizontal poles and used as a mode of transport.

   “At the end of two moneths I determined to go for Goa in the companye of two other Portingale Merchants, which were making readye to depart, with two Palanchines or little Litters, which are very commodious for the waye, with eight Falchines which are men hired, to carrie the palanchines, eight for a palanchine, foure at a time...”

   “Behold the hero of the scene, In bungalow and palankeen.”

   “The palanquin carries Pābūjī—and, according to the description on the par, he rides his mare mother on the palanquin...—towards Rāma's heaven.”

2. (broadly)Synonym of litter, any similar vehicle open or closed, human or animal-borne, particularly (historical) in colonial Asian contexts.

   “Behold his bed which is Solomon's. 'His bed' מִטָּתוֹ (mittatho)... The word here is generally understood to denote a palanquin or litter. Same as the 'chariot' in verse ninth... A royal bridal chariot or palanquin... A portable bed... A palanquin, sedan, or portable vehicle, in which Kings in the East used to be carried when on a long journey...”

   “This kogoshi, the simplest form of koshi palanquin, consists of a base with a raised railing and no roof.”

   “... the fan-bearer shows that the bearers are those of the king's palanquin ...”

   “In his records, La Loubere, Franch^([sic – meaning French]) Ambassador to Thailand in the reign of King Narai, described the appearance of the royal palanquin in Ayutthaya. It should be noted that the palanquin he mentioned as having 4 to 8 porters were small and not too heavy. They were probably palanquin for the king, members of the royal family or noblemen and were used to attend unimportant ceremonies.”