The etymology of the word 'Pindari' is :

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d). The term 'Pindari' is believed to be derived from 'Pinda', an intoxicating drink which these irregular horsemen were known to consume. Historically, they were freebooters who accompanied Maratha armies.
Information Booster

• Pindaris were irregular military plunderers in 18th-century India who served as unpaid auxiliaries.
• They reached their peak during the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of the Maratha Confederacy.
• They were suppressed by the British during the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) under Lord Hastings.
• The Pindaris consisted of both Hindus and Muslims, including famous leaders like Amir Khan and Chitu.
• The etymological root refers to their habit of drinking 'Pinda', a fermented liquor made from grain.

• Option A, B, and C: These refer to ritualistic 'Pinda' (flour balls) used in Hindu funeral rites (Shraddha), which have no etymological link to the military group known as Pindaris.
• The Pindari War is often cited as a precursor to the final collapse of Maratha power in Central India.