ओष्ठ

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *Háwštʰas (“lip”), from a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *h₃éh₁os (“mouth”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬀𐬊𐬱𐬙𐬀(-𐬗𐬀) (aošta(-ca), “upper lip”), 𐬀𐬊𐬱𐬙𐬭𐬀 (aoštra, “two lips”), Proto-Slavic *ūstà (“lip, mouth”). See also आस् (ā́s, “mouth”).

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɐ́wʂ.ʈʰɐ/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ˈoːʂ.ʈʰɐ/

ओष्ठ • (óṣṭha) stem, m ^[1]

1. lip (generally in dual)
   • c. 1700 BCE – 1200 BCE, Ṛgveda 2.39.6:

     ओष्ठाविव मध्वास्ने वदन्ता स्तनाविव पिप्यतं जीवसे नः।
     नासेव नस्तन्वो रक्षितारा कर्णाविव सुश्रुता भूतमस्मे॥

     oṣṭhāviva madhvāsne vadantā stanāviva pipyataṃ jīvase naḥ.
     nāseva nastanvo rakṣitārā karṇāviva suśrutā bhūtamasme.

     Even as two lips that with the mouth speak honey, even as two breasts that nourish our existence,
     Like the two nostrils that protect our being, be to us as our ears that hear distinctly.

2. the forepart of an Agnikuṇḍa

• ओष्ठ्य (oṣṭhya)
• अधरौष्ठ (adharauṣṭha)

Descendants with initial h- are attributed to influence from अधरौष्ठ (adharauṣṭha, “lower lip”) or a compound of similar nature prefixed by अधम (adhama, “lower”) (which may also explain nasalization). For Prakrit 𑀳𑁄𑀝𑁆𑀞 (hŏṭṭha), 𑀳𑀼𑀝𑁆𑀞 (huṭṭha), K. R. Norman suggested an early contraction of अधरौष्ठ (adharauṣṭha) to *𑀅𑀥𑀑𑀱𑁆𑀞 (*adhaoṣṭha).^[2]

ओष्ठ • (oṣṭha) stem, f

1. (botany) Coccinia grandis (to whose red fruits lips are commonly compared)