zenana

Meaning

Noun

• A harem on the Indian subcontinent; a part of the house reserved for high-caste women; a system of segregating women into harems.
• An effeminate or crossdressing male in northern India or Pakistan.

Origin

• From Hindi ज़नाना, Urdu زنانه, from Persian زنانه, from زن. Related to Old English cwene. More at quean.