.dombii as scavenger woman

[Michael Witzel]

>>.dombii
>
>The association of .dom with music is well known in India. They have provided
>some good musicians in the last century. ....
>Many medieval works refer to raagas called .dombakriti, .dombakriyaa,
>.dombakrii,
>.dombi, and .dombikaa. A taala called .dombuli is recorded as a popular
>(desii) one.

And the word is supposed to be the origin of the self-designation of
European Gypsies,
Roma; Rom, fem. Romni,
(who seem to be first recorded as wandering musicians at the court of a
Persian king, on their way westwards to N.Africa/Europe).

Domba (=Pkt), Dumba, Doma in Kashmiri Skt.texts.

Thus, with more details Mayrhofer, Etym. Woerterbuch, III 232
and earlier version KEWA I 464
Turner, CDIAL 5570 sqq

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Michael Witzel
Department of Sanskrit & Indian Studies, Harvard University
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