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nāgo

nāga

masc nom sg of nāga (noun)

1. noble person; great man; epithet of an arahant; epithet of the Buddha
2. tusker; bull elephant
3. snake; serpent; cobra
4. dragon; drake; supernatural shape-shifting serpent
5. stallion; thoroughbred
6. massive bull; strong ox
7. huge tree
8. massive man; giant

Etymology. From Sanskrit nāga, of uncertain ultimate origin. The word appears in Indo-Iranian languages (Avestan nāza- 'to bind', suggesting a root sense of 'binding' or 'restraint', hence 'strength'). The semantic range — from noble/strong person to elephant to serpent to dragon — reflects the word's use across Indic mythology to denote anything of surpassing power, majesty, or supernatural quality. No cognate in European languages is established.

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

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