गोधा

गोधा f

1. Devanagari script form of godhā (“monitor lizard”)

गोधा (godhā)

1. Devanagari script form of 𑀕𑁄𑀥𑀸 (“monitor lizard”)

Traditionally explained as गो (go, “ox; cattle”) + धा (dhā), from धयति (dhayati, “to suck”), literally "cow-sucker", which is likely based on either folk etymology^[1] or folk belief about milk-sucking reptile or amphibian common to some Indo-European cultures.^[2] Possibly comparable with Old Armenian կովադիաց (kovadiacʻ, “lizard”), Northern Kurdish bizinmij (“monitor lizard”, literally “goat sucker”), and even Latin būfō (“toad”).

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɡɐw.dʱɑ́ː/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ˈɡoː.d̪ʱɑː/

गोधा • (godhā́) stem, f

1. a kind of monitor lizard or other big lizard
   • c. 1200 BCE – 1000 BCE, Atharvaveda 4.3.6:

     मूर्णा॒ मृग॒स्य द॒न्ता अ॒पिशीर्णा उ पृष्ट॒यः ।
     निम्रु॒क् ते गोधा॒ भवतु नीचा॒यच् छशयु॒र् मृगः॒ ॥

     mū́rṇā mṛ́gasyá dantā́ apíśī́rṇā́ ú pṛṣṭayáḥ.
     nímruk té gódhā bhávátú nī́cāyác cháśáyur mṛ́gaḥ.

     Ruined (are) the teeth of the beast; crushed in also (its) ribs;
     Disappearing be for thee the godhā́ (monitor lizard); downward go the lurking(?) beast.

   • c. 1200 BCE – 800 BCE, Śukla-Yajurveda (Vājasenayi Saṃhitā)
2. sinew, chord
   • c. 1700 BCE – 1200 BCE, Ṛgveda
3. a leather strap worn around the left arm to prevent injury from a bowstring
   • c. 400 BCE, Mahābhārata

• Pali: godhā
• Prakrit: 𑀕𑁄𑀥𑀸 (godhā), 𑀕𑁄𑀳𑀸 (gohā)
  • Hindi: गोह (goh)
  • Punjabi: ਗੋਹ (goh)