Etymograph

English

Kali

Kali comes from Sanskrit काल ‘black, dark blue’, and goes back to Proto-Dravidian *kār.

  1. Proto-Dravidianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kār‘black’reconstructed
  2. Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEकालkāla‘black, dark blue’
  3. Sanskrit, derivedc. 1500–500 BCEकालीkālī
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1986Kali

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Dravidianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kār‘black’reconstructed
  2. Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEकालkāla‘black, dark blue’
  3. Sanskrit, derivedc. 1500–500 BCEकालीkālī
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1986Kali

Earliest quotation: 1986, David R. Kinsley: “Kālī is Śiva's "other" wife, as it were, provoking…”

Linked words

through Sanskrit काल ‘black, dark blue’

kalu, 1 more

Another origin of Kali

  1. Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEकलि
  2. EnglishtodayKali

Another origin of Kali

  1. Arabicc. 500–presentقِلْي‘anything that is the result of frying, be it edible, fries, or not’
  2. Germanc. 1650–presentKali‘potash’
  3. German, derivedc. 1650–presentKalium‘potassium’
  4. EnglishtodayKali

Today it means

name A goddess in Hinduism, one of the most significant figures within that religion, who destroys evil forces and bestows liberation.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Dravidian *kār / Kali

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