From Proto-Indo-Iranian *dʰánwr̥ ~ *dʰánwan- (“bow”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰénwr̥ (“bow”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬚𐬀𐬥𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬥 (θanuuan), 𐬚𐬀𐬥𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭𐬆 (θanuuarə), Old Persian 𐎰𐎵𐎢𐎺𐎴𐎡𐎹 (θ-nu-u-v-n-i-y /θanuvaniya/, “archer”), Ancient Greek θέναρ (thénar, “palm (of hand)”) and Old High German tenar. Compare धन्वन् (dhanvan).
धनुस् • (dhánus) stem, n
| singular | dual | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | धनुः (dhanuḥ) | धनुषी (dhanuṣī) | धनूंषि (dhanūṃṣi) |
| vocative | धनुः (dhanuḥ) | धनुषी (dhanuṣī) | धनूंषि (dhanūṃṣi) |
| accusative | धनुः (dhanuḥ) | धनुषी (dhanuṣī) | धनूंषि (dhanūṃṣi) |
| instrumental | धनुषा (dhanuṣā) | धनुर्भ्याम् (dhanurbhyām) | धनुर्भिः (dhanurbhiḥ) |
| dative | धनुषे (dhanuṣe) | धनुर्भ्याम् (dhanurbhyām) | धनुर्भ्यः (dhanurbhyaḥ) |
| ablative | धनुषः (dhanuṣaḥ) | धनुर्भ्याम् (dhanurbhyām) | धनुर्भ्यः (dhanurbhyaḥ) |
| genitive | धनुषः (dhanuṣaḥ) | धनुषोः (dhanuṣoḥ) | धनुषाम् (dhanuṣām) |
| locative | धनुषि (dhanuṣi) | धनुषोः (dhanuṣoḥ) | धनुःषु (dhanuḥṣu) |