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jotimālikampi

jotimālika

nominative/accusative neuter singular + api (enclitic 'even, also')

1. name of a torture; lit. fire wreath

Built from

• joti — root · fire, flame
  From √jva (Sanskrit jvala), cognate with English 'glow'; the bright imagery of burning and blazing.
• mālika — stem · wreath, garland
  Derived from mālā ('garland, wreath'), with -ika as a diminutive or qualifying suffix; denotes a shaped ornament or chain of flowers/objects.
• api — ending · even, also
  Enclitic particle adding emphasis or inclusive sense ('even this torture', 'this too'); attached without sandhi as the second element of the compound form.

Analysis. jotimālika + api: a torture instrument consisting of a wreath or garland of fire; the enclitic api ('even, also') adds emphasis or inclusivity.

Etymology. joti from √jva (Sanskrit jvala, 'to blaze, flame') + mālika from mālā ('garland, wreath'). Jva cognate with English glow; the compound is a bahuvrīhi 'having a garland of fire'. The torture is named descriptively from its fiery appearance.

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

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