vocative singular feminine of panāya (noun derived from panāyikā or similar); the surface form panāyye appears to be a variant or scribal form, possibly resolving to panāye or panāya in citation
Analysis. Likely a feminine noun from pan- (root or prefix related to "leading forth") + -āya, though the morphological analysis is uncertain; the word denotes a woman of status or authority in a household
Etymology. Possibly related to √pan (to lead, direct); the -āya suffix is a productive feminine nominal marker in Pali, but the root is not fully transparent. No clear Indo-European cognates are evident.
Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.
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