Language: Nepali
Source: In common use

Description

Sirupātē (सिरुपाते) is a word commonly used to describe a long, slender version of a Nepalese khukurī.

The word sirupātē (सिरुपाते) appears in Ralph Lilley Turner’s A Comparative and Etymological Dictionary of the Nepali Language of 1931 and is described as:

"सिरु-पाते siru-pāte,adj. Long and slender like a blade of siru" 1

 

Siru (सिरु) is the name of a local plant. Pātē (पाते) means "leaf".

Turner gives the meaning for siru (सिरु) as the name of two varieties of grass or reed: 

1. Imperata arundinacia (= khar-siru, used for thatching);

2. Imperata arundinacia var. latifolia.

(Another possibility may be Hypoxis aurea which is called ban siru (बन सिरु) locally.)

 

Early sirupate khukuriA sirupātē khukurī of the early 1800s.
Author's collection.

 

Sirupate khukuri

sirupātē khukurī with golden bolster. 
Listed at Mandarin Mansion.

 

 

 

Notes
1. Ralph Lilley Turner; A Comparative and Etymological Dictionary of the Nepali Language. Published by Kegan Paul, Trench and Trubner Co Ltd., London, 1931. Page 609.

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With iron, silver overlaid hilt. Its associated scabbard features fine quillwork.

€1800,-

Thought to have been presented by the Royal House of Nepal.

€3000,-

The scabbard carved as to closely mimic a tooled leather scabbard.

€450,-

Its scabbard with 12 pockets, with 10 of the items remaining.

€475,-

Signed: Ricky Milnes, India 44, Burma 44, Ramree 45.

€400,-

An exceptionally large example with a desirable three fullered blade.

€2200,-