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vacchatarā

vacchatara

masc nom pl of vacchatara (noun); masc instr sg of vacchatara (noun); masc abl sg of vacchatara (noun); masc voc sg of vacchatara (noun); …

1. young bull; bullock; lit. more than a calf

Built from

• vaccha — root · calf
  A young bovine animal. Sanskrit cognate vatsa, Latin vitulus 'calf'; both from the same Indo-European stem meaning 'calf' or 'young animal'.
• -tara — ending · comparative, more
  Suffix from √tar 'to cross, surpass, exceed'. Marks the comparative degree: 'more than a calf' = a young bull in the stage between calfhood and full oxhood.

Analysis. vaccha- (calf) + -tara (comparative suffix): literally 'more than a calf', i.e. an animal between calf and full ox.

Etymology. vaccha 'calf' is cognate with Sanskrit vatsa and Latin vitulus 'calf'; the comparative suffix -tara (from √tar 'cross, surpass') means 'more' or 'exceeding', so the compound expresses a stage of growth: an animal that has passed the calf stage but not yet reached full maturity.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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