From 1913 Webster’s, to show how “far” we’ve come:
Pun"dit (?), n.
[Hind. pandit, Skr. pandita a learned man.]
A learned man; a teacher; esp., a Brahman versed in the Sanskrit language, and in the science, laws, and religion of the Hindoos; in Cashmere, any clerk or native official. [Written also pandit.] [India]
From 1913 Webster’s, to show how “far” we’ve come:
I did not know that is where it came from, but that’s neat (if a touch depressing). Thank you for that info. Fascinating how languages shift.