Hindi/Urdu word "Shabhash"

[Richard Barz]

Shaabaash 'well done!': According to John Platts [A Dictionary of Urdu,
Classical Hindi and English, 1884, Munshiram Manoharlal(Delhi) reprint
1993, p. 716] shaabaash is from the Persian shaad 'pleased, delighted' +
baash, the imperative of buudan 'to be'.

Richard Barz


>I am looking for historical or etymological information on the Hindi/Urdu
>word "Shabhash", often used as a term of encouragement especially in
>artistic contexts.  I am not sure if I have even transliterated it
>correctly, but the Telugu manuscript in which I have found it spells it
>as "ShAbhAshu". Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>Devesh Soneji