Here are some compounds in lam where lam does not actually have
the usual sense of “path” or “way”:
1. spyod lam “behaviour, conduct”
2. smon lam “aspirational wish, resolution”
3. mig lam “sight, perspective”
4. bshang lam “anus”
5. rmi/gzims lam “dream”
6. rkyen lam “death by weapons”
7. gri lam “death by knife/sword” (needs to be verified)
8. lnga lam “death”
9. mdun lam “(future) prospect”
10. bar lam “in the interim, meanwhile”
11. rigs lam “logic”
12. sgrigs lam “rules and regulations”
13. gcin lam “urinary tract”
9. mdun lam “(future) prospect”
10. bar lam “in the interim, meanwhile”
11. rigs lam “logic”
12. sgrigs lam “rules and regulations”
13. gcin lam “urinary tract”
PHA LAM/
ReplyDeleteGCIN LAM/
LCAGS LAM/ [Neologism]
PA LAM/ (plum)
RMANG LAM/
GSEB LAM/
MYUR LAM/
Dear D,
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding these items. I wonder if pha lam is not a loan word. My no. 13 is supposed to be gcin lam. Pa lam is really funny. It is like Mo lo gan ji. Lam in myur lam is pretty much in the usual (though metaphorical) sense of “path,” right. I did not know rmang lam. I know now.
Best,
D.
Interesting idea that pha-lam could be a borrowing. My guess is it might be a name of a diamond source. It seems that in the 17th century there was an active diamond-producing area in Andhra Pradesh in south India that were called the Palam mines. Have a look at p. 38 of thisbook in PDF.
ReplyDeleteThis would make sense, especially since no Tibetan etymology makes sense ('father path'?). Isn't it true that pha-lam isn't much used alone, but together with rdo-rje as rdo-rje pha-lam? I don't know of very ancient usages of the word, do you?
Yours,
D
Dear Dan,
ReplyDeleteYour guess sounds indeed very plausible! No etymologising attempt in Tibetan seems to yield any sense. I also feel that it often (only?) occurs in combination with rdo rje.
Warmly,
D.