pagoda

The story

1. Sanskrit · derived fromभगवती“Holy One, used for goddesses”
2. Tamil · derived fromபகவதி“Durga, Parvati”
3. Malayalam · derived fromപകോതി“Durga temple”
4. Portuguese · derived frompagode“Hindu temple, Hindu idol, pagoda coin”
5. English todaypagoda

From Portuguese pagode (“Hindu temple, Hindu idol, pagoda coin”), from any of various Dravidian languages' words of respectful address to Hindu gods and idols and their temples, including Malayalam പകോതി (pakōti, “Durga temple”), Kannada, and Tamil பகவதி (pakavati, “Durga, Parvati”), possibly corrupted under the influence of Portuguese pagão (“pagan”), all ultimately from Sanskrit भगवती (bhagavatī, “Holy One, used for goddesses”). Previously but mistakenly connected with various other languages from Persia to China.

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. A Hindu temple.
• from 16th c. Alternative form of pagod, an idol, chiefly in South and Southeast Asia.
• from 16th c. A unit of currency, a coin made of gold or half gold, issued by various dynasties and colonial powers in southern India.
• from 19th c. Short for pagoda sleeve.