bhamu

Inherited from Proto-Indo-Aryan *HbʰrúHs (“eyebrow”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃bʰrúHs. Compare Sanskrit भ्रू (bhrū́), Old Marathi भवै (bhavai).

bhamu f

1. eyebrow

   Synonym: bhamuka

   • c. 50 BCE, Jataka (PTS Volume 6)‎, page PTS 476, BJT 350:

     6098. Parisāyampi me ayye milayitvā- udikkhati, // Tasmā ajja bhamuṃ luddaṃ dajjāhaṃ dakarakkhino.

     Even in company he stares at me with open eyes; therefore I would give this rascal with his puckered brows to the water-demon.

   • c. 50 BCE, Vessantara-Jataka‎; published in V. Fausbøll, editor, The Jataka together with its Commentary, vol. VI, London, 1896, 10. Vessantarajātakaṃ, page 482:

     Nīlanettā nīlabhamu nīlakkhī ca yathā migī, // Phusatī nāma nāmena tattha p' assaṁ Purindada. 1690

     Black eyes, black pupils like a fawn, black eyebrows may I have, // And Phusatī my name: this boon, O bounteous one, I crave.

   • [c. 1200, Abhidānappadīpikā‎, Anyaː Byākaraṇa gantha-saṅgahoː Abhidānappadīpikāpāṭhaː Bhūkaṇḍa (bis): paragraph 259:

     259. Lomaṃ tanuruhaṃ romaṃ, pamhaṃ pakhuma makkhigaṃ; // Massu vuttaṃ pumamukhe, bhū tvitthī bhamuko bhamu.

     Hair growing on the body hair, eyelash eyelash eyelash (?) // Beard shaved on a man's face, eyebrow (f.) eyebrow eyebrow.]

There is no clear evidence for whether this word is masculine or feminine. The consensus declension is therefore: