English word origin

Etymology of kama

From Japanese 鎌 (kama, “sickle, scythe”).

2 source sectionsBrief source recordWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

noun

A sickle-like weapon, originally used as a tool for cutting weeds.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Japanese 鎌 (kama, “sickle, scythe”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Derivation mention鎌ja

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ja",
        "3": "鎌",
        "4": "",
        "5": "sickle, scythe",
        "tr": "kama"
      },
      "expansion": "Japanese 鎌 (kama, “sickle, scythe”)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "鎌",
      "鎌#Japanese"
    ],
    [
      "sickle",
      "sickle"
    ],
    [
      "scythe",
      "scythe"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A sickle-like weapon, originally used as a tool for cutting weeds."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "4b69a4fe265c1ba24ed6fb8bec8ea3a39f3585a2b126831bbcd9098b9c9cfaf6",
      "rawRecordSha256": "a7ec4aae2d5a836b625290ab0b17eb5f421cd0efcfad4e94d019a2e6cc032c77",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 204663
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

noun

The act or process of wishing; longing, desire (with or without sexual connotations); one of the goals of life in Hindu tradition.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Sanskrit काम (kā́ma).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Root classification mention*keh₂-ine-pro
Derivation mentionकामsa

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "root",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*keh₂-"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "sa",
        "3": "काम",
        "tr": "kā́ma"
      },
      "expansion": "Sanskrit काम (kā́ma)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "काम",
      "काम#Sanskrit"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "The act or process of wishing; longing, desire (with or without sexual connotations); one of the goals of life in Hindu tradition."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Hinduism",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "recordId": "7fb4e04d2398cd3a7347e8a5f1ffd816249bf9b33df5dc37097475f09bdb70b7",
      "rawRecordSha256": "abc2986bef4cf7cdfae595144268de546cf3be8e627ba4c3e5957d09f95ffe9e",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 204664
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for kama →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-a2FtYQ