Ghat

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɡɔːt/

Alternative forms

• ghaut

Origin

From Hindi घाट (ghāṭ, "pier"), from Sanskrit घट्ट (ghaṭṭa, "a landing place, steps on the side of a river leading to the waters"), probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Telugu కట్ట (kaṭṭa, "dam, embankment").

Full definition of ghat

Noun

1. (India) A descending path or stairway to a river; a ford or landing-place.
• 2008, Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger, Atlantic 2009, p. 16:Chunks of wood were being built into funeral pyres on the steps of the ghat that went down into the water; four bodies were burning on the ghat steps when we got there.
2. (India) A mountain range.
3. (India) A mountain pass.
4. (India) A burning-ghat.