가마

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 가마〮 (Yale: kàmá). Possibly cognate with Japanese 窯 (kama, “kiln; oven; cauldron”). Compare also 감— (gam-, “to be black”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

가마 • (gama)

1. kiln; oven

   벽돌을 가마에 굽다

   byeokdoreul gamae gupda

   to bake bricks in a kiln

2. cauldron

   가마 밑이 노구솥 밑을 검다 한다.

   gama michi nogusot miteul geomda handa.

   The pot calls the kettle black.

• 가마솥 (gamasot, “cauldron”)

First attested in the Hunmong jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527, as Middle Korean 가마〮. Possibly related to 감〯다〮 (kǎmtá, “to wind around”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

가마 • (gama)

1. whorl of hair, vortex of hair (on the vertex of the head)

   내 머리에 가마가 하나니 둘이니?

   nae meorie gamaga hanani durini?

   Do I have one or two hair whorls?

• 쌍가마 (ssanggama, “double vortexes of hair”)

From Japanese 叺 (kamasu, “straw bag”), itself originally a compound of 蒲 (kama, “reed, straw, rushes”) + 簀 (su, “woven mat”). Cognate with 가마니 (gamani, “sack made of straw”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

가마 • (gama)

1. sack made of straw
2. (measure word) bag, sack

   쌀 한 가마에 십만 원 간다.

   ssal han gamae simman won ganda.

   The market price of rice is 100,000 won a bag.

• 쌀가마 (ssalgama, “sack of rice”)

Of native Korean origin.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “First attestation?”)

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

가마 • (gama)

1. palanquin

   가마를 타고 가다

   gamareul tago gada

   to go by palanquin

   가마를 메다

   gamareul meda

   to carry a palanquin on the shoulder

• 가마꾼 (gamakkun, “palanquin bearer”)