Reconstruction:Prakrit/𑀫𑁄𑀝𑁆𑀞

This Prakrit entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Prakrit

Alternative forms

*𑀫𑀝𑁆𑀞 (*maṭṭha) — for Gujarati and Marathi forms

Etymology

Unknown; probably borrowed from substrate.^[1] Formally inherited from Sanskrit मुकुष्ठ (mukuṣṭha, “kind of bean”), but that is probably a Sanskritisation of this word. Compare Prakrit *𑀫𑀝𑁆𑀝𑀭 (*maṭṭara, “pea”) ~ *𑀫𑀝𑁆𑀞 (*maṭṭha, “pea”), Sanskrit मु॒द्ग (mudgá, “mung bean”), Sanskrit मुकुल (mukula, “bud”) ~ मुद्गर (mudgara, “bud; hammer”).^[2]

Compare Kannada ಮಡಕಿ (maḍaki), ಮಡಿಕೆ (maḍike), ಮಡಿಗೆ (maḍige), referring to the same plant, but probably unrelated.

Also note that Classical Persian (mothi) is attested in an Indian text from 1357, and refers to the same bean.^[3]

1357, Ziauddin Barani, Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi‎^[3], page 568:

و موتهی و کنجد که در آن زمین می‌کاشتند و در بیابان‌ها فرود می‌بردند بجای آن از قوت آب نیشکر و حفظه و نخود خواهند کاشت و در خانه‌ها آورد

v mvthy v knjd kh dr ān zmyn my-kaśtnd v dr byaban-ha frvd my-brdnd bjay ān az qvt āb nyśkr v ḥfz̤h v nxvd xvahnd kaśt v dr xanh-ha āvrd

They used to cultivate moṭh [coarse grain] and sesame in that land and harvested them in wilderness. Now owing to the aid of water they will grow and bring home sugarcane, wheat and gram […]

This is probably the earliest mention; also see Old Punjabi ਮੋਠੁ (moṭhu) attested from the 17th century.

Noun

*𑀫𑁄𑀝𑁆𑀞 (*mŏṭṭha) m

moth bean, Vigna aconitifolia

Descendants

Central Indo-Aryan:
- Hindustani:
  - Hindi: मोठ (moṭh)
  - Urdu: موٹھ (moṭh)
Northwestern Indo-Aryan:
- Old Punjabi: ਮੋਠੁ (moṭhu)
  - Punjabi:
    Gurmukhi script: ਮੋਠ (moṭh)
    Shahmukhi script: موٹھ (moṭh)
  - Saraiki: موٹھ (moṭh)
- Sindhi:
  Arabic script: موٺُ (moṭhu)
  
  Devanagari script: मोठु (moṭhu)
- → Pashto: موت (mot), موټ (moṭ, “Lathyrus sativus”)^[4]
Southern Indo-Aryan:
- Marathi: मठ (maṭh)
Western Indo-Aryan:
- Gujarati: મઠ (maṭh)
→ Kashmiri:
Devanagari script: मुठु॒ (muṭhu॒)
→ Sanskrit: मुकुष्ठ (mukuṣṭha), मुकुष्ठक (mukuṣṭhaka), मकुष्ट (makuṣṭa), मपष्ट (mapaṣṭa), मपुष्ठक (mapuṣṭhaka), मयुष्ठक (mayuṣṭhaka), मुकुष्ट (mukuṣṭa) — Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit, मुद्गष्ठ (mudgaṣṭha)

References

^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) “mukuṣṭhaḥ”, in Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary]‎^[1] (in German), volume II, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 647
^ Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “mukuṣṭha-”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 584
^ Irfan Habib, Faiz Habib (2017) “Mapping the canal system of Fīroz Shah including an abortive Sarasvati ‘restoration’”, in Studies in People’s History, volume 4, number 2, →DOI, pages 146–161
^ M. De Chiara, A. V. Rossi (2015) “Pashto botanical terms in I. M. Steblin-Kamensky’s Ètimologičeskij slovar’ vaxanskogo jazyka”, in M. S. Pelevin, editor, Na Pastbišče Mysli Blagoj. Sbornik Statej k Jubileju I.M. Steblin-Kamenskogo‎^[2], St. Petersburg: Kotrast, page 130 of 120–140

[1] Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) “mukuṣṭhaḥ”, in Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary]‎^[1] (in German), volume II, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 647

[2] Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “mukuṣṭha-”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 584

[3] Irfan Habib, Faiz Habib (2017) “Mapping the canal system of Fīroz Shah including an abortive Sarasvati ‘restoration’”, in Studies in People’s History, volume 4, number 2, →DOI, pages 146–161

[4] M. De Chiara, A. V. Rossi (2015) “Pashto botanical terms in I. M. Steblin-Kamensky’s Ètimologičeskij slovar’ vaxanskogo jazyka”, in M. S. Pelevin, editor, Na Pastbišče Mysli Blagoj. Sbornik Statej k Jubileju I.M. Steblin-Kamenskogo‎^[2], St. Petersburg: Kotrast, page 130 of 120–140

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