Pungam
/ˈpʊŋɡəm/noun
An Indian tree, usually identified as Pongamia pinnata, valued for its oil-bearing seeds and ornamental flowers.
Did you know?Pungam is associated with Pongamia pinnata, a tree whose seeds contain pungam oil, traditionally used in lamps, soapmaking, and folk medicine.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-modern period
Dravidian
*puṅkai
“A reconstructed Dravidian source associated with the name of the pungam or pongam tree; the precise proto-form is uncertain.”
Medieval period
Tamil
puṅkai
“The name of the tree now commonly known as pungam or Indian beech.”
Medieval period
Malayalam
puṅṅu
“A regional name for the same or a closely related tree.”
18th–19th Century
Scientific Latin
Pongamia
“The botanical genus name established for the tree, based on an Indian vernacular name.”
Modern English
English
pungam
“An English botanical common name for Pongamia pinnata, also called Indian beech or pongam.”