Dagoba
/ˈdɑː.ɡə.bə/noun
A dome-shaped Buddhist shrine or stupa, especially in Sri Lanka and South Asia.
Did you know?The term comes through Portuguese from Sinhala, and in Buddhist tradition a dagoba can house relics of the Buddha, turning architecture into a living act of devotion.
Etymological Timeline
Sinhala
Sinhala
dāgaba
“A Buddhist relic shrine or stupa”
16th Century
Portuguese
dagoba
“A Buddhist shrine or stupa encountered in South Asia”
18th–19th Century
English
dagoba
“A term used for a Buddhist shrine, especially in Sri Lanka”
Modern English
English
dagoba
“A dome-shaped Buddhist shrine or stupa”