Etymology Map
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Peepal

3 stages from Sanskrit to English.

Today it means The sacred fig tree of South Asia, revered in Hinduism and Buddhism as the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Where does the word "peepal" come from? It comes from Sanskrit pippala, passing through Hindi before entering English (1783).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pippala
Sanskrit · ancient
"the sacred fig tree"
named the sacred fig tree
2
Stage 2 of 3
pipal
Hindi · medieval
"the sacred fig tree"
the everyday name for the tree, sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism
3
Stage 3 of 3
peepul
English · 1783
"the sacred fig tree, under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment"
British botanists in India adopted the name
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