Vaisya

[ vahys-yuh, vahysh- ]

/ ˈvaɪs yə, ˈvaɪʃ- /

a member of the Hindu mercantile and professional class, above the Shudras and below the Kshatriyas. Compare Brahman¹(def 1).

Origin of Vaisya

First recorded in 1785–95, Vaisya is from the Sanskrit word vaiśya

A Sudra in distress may turn to a handicraft; and in the same circumstances a Vaisya may stoop to service.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 |Various
Thus the Vaisya caste were in ancient times the tillers of the soil.

The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. 1 |Various
And a Vaisya, having earned wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the Vedas to be performed for himself.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 4 |Kisari Mohan Ganguli
In the city there are many Vaisya elders and Sabaean merchants, whose houses are stately and beautiful.

Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms |Fa-Hsien

The Heads of the Vaisya families in them establish in the cities houses for dispensing charity and medicines.

Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms |Fa-Hsien

Vaisya

/ (ˈvaɪsjə, ˈvaɪʃjə) /

the third of the four main Hindu castes, the traders

C18: from Sanskrit, literally: settler, from viś settlement