1. A Hindu merchant or trader, especially in India during the colonial period.
Usage: historical; also spelled banyan
2. A Hindu who abstains from eating meat.
Usage: archaic; also spelled banyan

Examples

• The banian served as a middleman between European traders and local suppliers.
• In colonial India, banians often held significant economic power in their communities.
• The banian's strict dietary practices reflected his religious beliefs.
• Many banians accumulated wealth through commerce and moneylending.
• The term banian is now primarily found in historical texts about India.