Sunday, November 22, 2009

Question 484

The word X in English is derived from Hindi and dates to 1762. The Hindi word referred to head massage, usually with some form of hair oil. Similar words also occur in other North Indian languages. The word and the service of head massage were introduced to Britain by a Bengali entrepreneur. This entreprenuer introduced the practice to Basil Cochrane's vapour baths while working there in London in the early 1800s, and later, together with his Irish wife, opened his "Steam and Vapour Sea Water Medicated Baths" in Brighton, England. His baths were like Turkish baths where clients received an Indian treatment of champi (X), meaning therapeutic massage. He was appointed ‘X-ing Surgeon’ to both George IV and William IV.
What is X?