WALLAH

[wal.lah] n [Hindi -vala one in charge, fr. Skt pala protector, fr. palayati, parayati he guards; akin to Skt piparti he brings over, saves, OE faran to go--more at fare] (1782): a person who is associated with a particular work or who performs a specific duty or service--usu. used in combination "the book ~ was an itinerant peddler --George Orwell"