On Wed, Oct 3, 2018 at 12:54 PM Madhav Deshpande <mmdesh@umich.edu> wrote:

I wonder if Telugu tupāki is related to the Marathi word तोफ "cannon." The family of one of my ancestors was in charge of cannons in Gwalior and earned the family name जिनसीवाले, where, I am told, the word Jinsi refers to cannon-balls.

Yes. I believe they are all related. In Telugu tōp(h)-ḵẖāna is still used to refer a storehouse of guns. But tōph used only for canons. There is another persian word tupak to refer to a musket. I believe Telugu/Tamil tupāki came from the Persian word. Another word tamanca is also used in Telugu for pistols, which also has a corresponding word in Persian.

تفنگ tufang, A musket

تپك tupak, A musket

تمنچه tamancha, A pistol.
(From Steingass, Francis Joseph. A Comprehensive Persian-English dictionary)

I am not sure, but I think some of these words have a Turkish origin. Other knowledgeable people on this list perhaps can explain.

Regards,

Suresh.