bwt'

Middle Persian

Etymology

Borrowed from either Bactrian Βοδδο (Boddo), Βουδο (Boudo, “Buddha”) or Sogdian [script needed] (bwt /⁠but⁠/, “Buddha”), perhaps through Gandhari 𐨦𐨂𐨢 (budha), ultimately from Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddha). Compare Manichaean Middle Persian 𐫁𐫇𐫤 (bwt /⁠but⁠/).

Noun

bwt' • (but)

1. Buddha
2. idol
   • Āyātgār i Žāmāspīk (VIII;51), cited in [1]

     (please add the primary text of this usage example)

     (...) martomān i-š andar bavēnd, kirrōk (u) nēzūmān u bārīk vēnišn ēstāt bavēnd, but paristēnd; ka mīrēnd druvand hēnd.

     (...) its people artisan and skillful and discerning (narrow-eyed?); they worship the idol and they are sinful in other world.

Descendants

• Persian: بت (bot, “idol”)

References

• MacKenzie, D. N. (1971) “but”, in A concise Pahlavi dictionary, London, New York, Toronto: Oxford University Press, page 20