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it
Kids
English
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Kids
EN
caste
Definitions
1
noun
A
social
class
or
group
in
a
society
that
people
are
born
into
and
cannot
change
.
It
often
determines
their
occupation
and
social
interactions
.
In
traditional
Indian
society
,
people
are
born
into
a
caste
that
dictates
their
social
status
.
The
caste
system
has
been
a
subject
of
much
debate
and
reform
.
He
was
born
into
a
high
caste
,
which
afforded
him
certain
privileges
.
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Word Origin
Language
Portuguese
Original word
casta
Originally meant
race, lineage
Background
The word 'caste' comes from the Portuguese word 'casta', which means race or lineage. It was used by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century to describe the social divisions they observed in India.