koel

Where does the word "koel" come from? It comes from Sanskrit kokila, passing through Hindi before entering English (1826).

Koel’s story begins in Sanskrit: kokila meant “the Asian koel, a cuckoo.” An echoic name for the Asian cuckoo. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as koyal. The everyday name for the bird. It reached English by 1826 as koel. British naturalists in India adopted the bird's name. Today, koel means an Asian cuckoo known for its loud, melodious call, often heard but rarely seen.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient kokila "the Asian koel, a cuckoo", an echoic name for the Asian cuckoo.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval koyal "the koel bird", the everyday name for the bird.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1826 koel "an Asian cuckoo known for its loud, distinctive call", British naturalists in India adopted the bird's name.