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maṁsakhalaṁ

maṁsakhala

nominative singular neuter (or accusative); compound noun

1. flesh-bond
2. meat-fetter
3. fleshly attachment

Built from

• maṁsa — root · flesh, meat
  The physical substance of the body; in doctrinal contexts, a synecdoche for material craving and sensual desire.
• khala — root · bond, fetter
  A thing that binds or restrains. Cognate with English "kale" (archaic for husk or husk-like thing). Represents the imagery of being held fast.

Analysis. maṁsa (flesh) + khala (bond, fetter, a restraint). The compound denotes bondage through craving for flesh or attachment to the body's material nature.

Etymology. maṁsa < Indo-European *mēms- (flesh, meat); cognate with English "meat", German "Magd" (maid, referring to tissue). khala is from √khal-, to hold or bind. Together the word reflects the Buddhist analysis of bodily craving as a binding force.

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

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