Shama
/ˈʃɑː.mə/noun
A small Southeast Asian songbird, especially the white-rumped shama, known for its rich and varied call.
Did you know?The white-rumped shama is celebrated in aviculture for its extraordinary ability to imitate other birds and weave elaborate song sequences.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śyāma
“Dark, black, dusky, or deep-colored; the feminine form śyāmā could mean “dark one.””
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Prakrits
śyāmā
“A feminine form meaning dark-colored or dusky.”
Early Modern South Asia
Hindi
śāmā
“The shama bird, named with a feminine form meaning dark-colored.”
18th Century
English
shama
“An English borrowing for the Southeast Asian songbird, especially Copsychus malabaricus.”
Modern English
English
shama
“A songbird prized for its powerful, varied, and imitative singing.”