Matsya

M3A1T1S1Y4A1

proper noun

The first of ten successive avatars of the god Vishnu, who saved the first man Manu from a great flood in the form of a fish.

OriginSanskrit मत्स्य ← Proto-Indo-Iranian *mátsyas →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. HinduismThe first of ten successive avatars of the god Vishnu, who saved the first man Manu from a great flood in the form of a fish.
  2. HinduismAn ancient kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata, ruled by King Virāta.
  3. HinduismName of one of the eighteen Puranas.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-Iranian*mátsyas
  2. Sanskritमत्स्य“fish”
  3. EnglishMatsya

Borrowed from Sanskrit मत्स्य (mátsya, “fish”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mátsyas.

More words from Sanskrit, Proto-Indo-Iranian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Matsya. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Matsya

MLA

“Matsya.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Matsya. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Matsya,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Matsya.

Source: Matsya on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.