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piṇḍāya

piṇḍa

masc dat sg of piṇḍa (noun)

1. piṇḍa (masc): ball; lump
2. piṇḍa (masc): bit of food; alms food
3. piṇḍa (masc): stalk of a toadstool
4. piṇḍāya (masc): for alms; to collect alms food

Etymology. Origin uncertain. Possibly related to Sanskrit piṇḍa (lump, ball, rice-ball offering), but no secure Indo-European cognate. The word may be connected to a root meaning to press or compact, but this remains speculative. In Buddhist contexts piṇḍa denotes the monk's daily alms food, collected in the bowl during piṇḍapāta (alms-round).

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

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