Origin and symbology of "Monsoon rain"

[David Magier]

> I understand it derived from the same root as "Mausam" or season. This 
> word is probably from Persian but some one else can give you better 
> etymology.

American Heritage Dictionary lists monsoon as deriving from the
obsolete Dutch word monssoen, from the Portuguese mon,c~ao, from the
Arabic mausim. My PLATTS Urdu, Classical Hindi and English Dictionary
(never far from my side) also shows the Urdu word mausim deriving from
Arabic mausim (time, season), from the root wasama ('brand,
describe'). Apparently, Persian does not use this word for the meaning
of time or season.

David Magier
 

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>> I understand it derived from the same root as "Mausam" or season. This 
>> word is probably from Persian but some one else can give you better 
>> etymology.

> American Heritage Dictionary lists monsoon as deriving from the
> obsolete Dutch word monssoen, from the Portuguese mon,c~ao, from the
> Arabic mausim. My PLATTS Urdu, Classical Hindi and English Dictionary
> (never far from my side) also shows the Urdu word mausim deriving from
> Arabic mausim (time, season), from the root wasama ('brand,
> describe'). Apparently, Persian does not use this word for the meaning
> of time or season.

> David Magier
 

Haim's Shorter Persian-English Dictionary (Tehran, 1982) lists "mausim" (A.),
meaning "Season. Time." However, another Arabic loan word, "fasl,"
may be more common (in Persian) for "season."

David Swain