[An-lang] Etymology of Malay narwastu (David Mead)

[Malcolm Mintz]

Hi David,

It appears as if the origin, as least in part, of the word you are looking
at is the Sanskrit nalada.

http://sanskritdictionary.com/?iencoding=iast&q=nalada&lang=sans&action=Sear
ch
http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?beginning=0+&tinput=+nalada&trans=Transla
te

There is obviously also a second part, possibly the Sanskrit vastu, although
which of the possible meanings of this word is relevant is not at all clear
to me.


There are a number of references to narwastu and narawastu in the Marsden A
dictionary of the Malayan language under the search for spikenard, but I
can't see any reference as to the origin of the word.

https://books.google.com.au/books?id=cywVAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&redir_
esc=y&hl=en#v=snippet&q=spikenard&f=false

Regards,
Malcolm

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Today's Topics:

   1. Etymology of Malay narwastu (David Mead)


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Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2017 22:31:22 -0400
From: David Mead <mead2368 at gmail.com <mailto:mead2368 at gmail.com> >
To: <an-lang at anu.edu.au <mailto:an-lang at anu.edu.au> >
Subject: [An-lang] Etymology of Malay narwastu
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Hi,

Does anyone know the source / etymology of Malay narwastu defined as
"spikenard, frankincense" (Wilkinson 1908) and as "vetiver Andropogon
zizanoides ;perfume (prepared from the roots), spikenard oil" 
(Stevens and Schmidgall-Tellings 2004).

One also encounters variant forms, nawastu, narawetu, nagasetu, rarawestu,
and similar forms in other languages, e.g. narawastu
(Sundanese?) larasetu, larawestu (Javanese?) karabistu (Madurese?). 
Note also from southeastern Sulawesi : Wolio marawasituu "k.o. plant whose
fragrant leaves are mixed with tobacco" (Anceaux 1987) and Kulisusu
marawasituu "k.o. plant, the leaves narrow, often folded, growing from a
clump in the ground; the root is said to have a fragrance similar to ginger"
(probably Chrysopogon zizanoides or Dianella sp.)

I have checked Jones Loan-words in Indonesian and Malay and Gonda Sanskrit
in Indonesia, along with several different tries at Google searches, all to
no avail.

David



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