Online Encyclopedia

PAGODA (Port. pagode, a word introduc...

Online Encyclopedia
Originally appearing in Volume V20, Page 453 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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PAGODA (
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Port. pagode, a word introduced in the 16th century by the early Portuguese adventurers in India, reproducing phonetically some native word, possibly Pers. but-kadah, a house for an idol, or some form of Sansk. bhagavat, divine,
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holy)
  , an Eastern
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term for a temple, especially a
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building of a
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pyramid shape
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common in India and the Far East and devoted to sacred purposes; in Buddhist countries, notably
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China, the name of a many-sided tower in which are kept
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holy relics . More loosely " pagoda " is used in the East to signify any non-Christian or non-Mussulman place of worship . Pagoda or pagod was also the name given to a gold (occasionally also
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silver) coin, of about the value of seven shillings, at one time current in
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southern India . From this meaning is derived the expression " the pagoda tree," as synonymous with the "
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wealth of the Indies," whence the phrase to " shake the pagoda tree." There is a real tree, the Plumieria acuminata, bearing the name . It grows in India, and is of a small and graceful shape, and bears yellow and white flowers tinged with red .

End of Article: PAGODA (Port. pagode, a word introduced in the 16th century by the early Portuguese adventurers in India, reproducing phonetically some native word, possibly Pers. but-kadah, a house for an idol, or some form of Sansk. bhagavat, divine, holy)
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