Kirāta.-Probably the name given to a tribe of jungle men. Their language is classed with those of the Ottas, the Andhakas, the Yonakas and the Damilas, as a language of the Milakkhas (non-Aryans). E.g., DA.i.176; VibhA.388; see also Zimmer: Altind. Leben 34.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Kirāta (& kirāṭa) [prob. dial.] a man of a tribe of jungle- men, classed with dwarfs among the attendants of a chief DA i.148. See on the Kirāta as a mountain tribe Zimmer, Altindisches Leben p. 34. Cp. also apakiritūna & okirati2, okiraṇa. -- A secondary meaning of kirāṭa is that of a fraudulent merchant, a cheat (see kirāsa & kerāṭika).

Pali-English Dictionary, TW Rhys Davids, William Stede,