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gaggarāya

gaggara

masc dat sg of gaggara (noun); fem instr sg of gaggarā (noun); fem dat sg of gaggarā (noun); fem abl sg of gaggarā (noun); …

1. gaggarā (fem): name of a lotus pond near Campā; lit. gurgling
2. gaggarāyati (pr): bellows, roars
3. gaggara (masc): bellows; smith's bellows
4. gaggarā (fem): name of a type of lightning; lit. gurgling

Analysis. Nominative singular forms gaggarā (fem) and gaggara (masc) are derived from a reduplicated root expressing onomatopoeia; the word denotes both the sound of gurgling or bellowing and the device that produces it.

Etymology. Reduplication of garg- or gar- with the sense of onomatopoeia: imitating a deep, rumbling sound. Sanskrit gargara has the same sense (bellows, gurgling). The reduplication suggests both intensification and the cyclical, rhythmic nature of bellowing or flowing water. No clear Indo-European cognate, though the phonetic pattern resembles Germanic bellow and English gurgle.

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

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