Vaisya

American  

[vahys-yuh, vahysh-] / ˈvaɪs yə, ˈvaɪʃ- /

noun

1. a member of the Hindu mercantile and professional class, above the Shudras and below the Kshatriyas.

---

Vaisya British  

/ ˈvaɪsjə, ˈvaɪʃjə /

noun

1. the third of the four main Hindu castes, the traders

---

Etymology

Origin of Vaisya

First recorded in 1785–95, Vaisya is from the Sanskrit word vaiśya

Example Sentences

A Kshatriya may take his food from a Brahmana, a Kshatriya or a Vaisya.

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by Ganguli, Kisari Mohan

The breeding of kine and trade are the legitimate work in which a Vaisya may engage without fear of censure.

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by Ganguli, Kisari Mohan

Vidura, and Sanjaya and Yuyutsu of great intelligence, who was Dhritarashtra's son by his Vaisya wife, used to wait upon Dhritarashtra.

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by Ganguli, Kisari Mohan

It seems then that the Kshatriya and Vaisya castes, though in one sense non-existent, still control Hindu succession.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

To keep herds of cattle, to bestow largesses, to sacrifice, to read the scripture, to carry on trade, to lend at interest, and to cultivate land, are prescribed or permitted to a Vaisya.

From The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies by Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)