Banian \Ban"ian\, n. [Skr. banij merchant. The tree was so named by the English, because used as a market place by the merchants.]

1. A Hindoo trader, merchant, cashier, or money changer. [Written also banyan.]

2. A man's loose gown, like that worn by the Banians.

3. (Bot.) The Indian fig. See Banyan.

Banian days (Naut.), days in which the sailors have no flesh meat served out to them. This use seems to be borrowed from the Banians or Banya race, who eat no flesh.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Banyan \Ban"yan\, n. [See Banian.]

(Bot.) A tree of the same genus as the common fig, and called the Indian fig (Ficus Indica), whose branches send shoots to the ground, which take root and become additional trunks, until it may be the tree covers some acres of ground and is able to shelter thousands of men.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)