ama

Meaning

Noun

• Alternate spelling of amah
• A traditional Japanese pearl diver, typically female.
• The float on the outrigger of a proa or trimaran.
• A toxic byproduct of improper or incomplete digestion.
• Fabric made from the hair of a camel or goat.

Origin

• From Portuguese ama ("female nurse"), from Medieval Latin amma ("wet nurse, amma"), perhaps an alteration of mamma, of imitative origin, or from Ancient Greek.
• From Japanese 海女.
• From Polynesian.
• From Sanskrit अम ("disease").
• Origin unknown.