vâm

See also: Appendix:Variations of "vam"

Vietnamese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [vəm˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [vəm˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [vəm˧˧] ~ [jəm˧˧]

Noun

vâm • (𠢝, 󰁨, 勨)

1. (obsolete, honorific) elephant
   • 1915, Phan Kế Bính, Việt Nam phong tục [Vietnamese customs]:

     Con hùm kiêng gọi là ông ba mươi, con rắn kiêng gọi là ông lốt, con voi kiêng gọi là ông vâm.

     As a form of avoidance, the tiger is called ông ba mươi, the snake is called ông lốt, the elephant is called ông vâm.

Derived terms

• khoẻ như vâm