𑀛𑀼𑀝𑁆𑀞

Prakrit

Alternative forms

• 𑀚𑀼𑀝𑁆𑀞 (juṭṭha)

Etymology

Unclear. Turner postulates original long ū and connects this term with Parachi [script needed] (ǰuṭ, “concealed”) and [script needed] (ǰuṭī, “theft”).

Supposing the form with unaspirated j- was original, then possibly from (or at least influenced by) 𑀚𑀼𑀝𑁆𑀞 (juṭṭha, “used, *defiled”), from Sanskrit जुष्ट (juṣṭa, “tasted, enjoyed, used”). The intermediate meaning of "defiled" is attested by Nepali जुठो (juṭho, “defiled, unchaste”) and Marathi झुटा (jhuṭā, “defiled”), the latter of which also shares a spurious aspirated jh-. For the semantic drift, compare the possible development of English bad from Old English bǣdan (“to defile”).

Adjective

𑀛𑀼𑀝𑁆𑀞 (jhuṭṭha) (Devanagari झुट्ठ, Kannada ಝುಟ್ಠ) (Śaurasenī, Māhārāṣṭrī, Māgadhī)

1. false

Descendants

• Central:
  • Hindustani:
    • Hindi: झूठ (jhūṭh)
    • Urdu: جھوٹھ (jhūṭh)
  • Gujarati: જુઠું (juṭhũ)
  • Punjabi: ਝੂਠ (jhūṭh)
• Northern:
  • Nepali: झुट (jhuṭ)
• Eastern:
  • Bengali: ঝুঁঠ (jhũṭh)
  • Odia: ଝୁଠ (jhuṭha)

References

• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “jhūṭṭha”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press