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eṇeyyakampi

eṇeyyaka

nt, nominative/accusative singular + enclitic api

1. name of a torture; lit. black antelope

Built from

• eṇa — root · black antelope
  The base noun, denoting the animal. Related to Sanskrit eṇa and Greek nebros (fawn), both from IE *en- 'to produce, bear'.
• -ika — ending · diminutive, instrumental
  Derives a diminutive or tool-noun from the stem eṇa, creating eṇeyyaka as the name of the torture device inspired by or resembling the antelope.
• api — prefix · even, also
  Enclitic particle emphasizing the preceding noun; here meaning 'even [this torture called] the black antelope'.

Analysis. eṇeyyaka (black antelope, the torture instrument) + api (even, also) — the torture device named after the animal whose coloring it resembled.

Etymology. eṇeyyaka from eṇa 'black antelope' (Sanskrit eṇa, cognate with Greek νεβρός nebros 'fawn, young deer', both from IE *en- 'to bear young') + -ika diminutive/instrumental suffix; the torture involved binding or striking, evoking the animal's quick, darting movements.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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