linga
|ling-a|
C2
/ˈlɪŋɡə/
mark/sign; Shiva's symbol
Etymology
Etymology Information
'linga' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'liṅga', where 'liṅga' meant 'mark' or 'sign'.
Historical Evolution
'liṅga' in Sanskrit passed into Prakrit and other Middle Indic languages and later into modern Indic languages (for example Hindi and Marathi); the term entered English in the 18th–19th century as 'linga' or the related form 'lingam'.
Meaning Changes
Initially it meant 'mark' or 'sign', but over time in religious usage it became associated specifically with the phallic emblem representing Shiva.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a phallic representation of the Hindu god Shiva used as an object of worship; a Shiva-lingam.
The temple houses an ancient linga carved from stone.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/23 05:33