लुण्ठति
Loot
(luṇṭhati)To rob, plunder — the Sanskrit verb that became an English noun
Full Meaning
The English word "loot" comes from the Sanskrit root luṇṭhati — "he plunders, he robs." It entered English through Hindi lūṭ during the British colonial period, when the word was used to describe the plundering of Indian cities. Ironically, a Sanskrit word for theft became widely used to describe the theft of India's wealth.
Etymology
From the Sanskrit root luṇṭh (लुण्ठ्) — to rob, to plunder, to pillage. Luṇṭhati means "he/she/it plunders."
Usage in Sanskrit Texts
The word entered English in the early 19th century during the British East India Company's expansion. It now means any goods taken by force or stolen.
लुण्ठति — He plunders. A verb that became the world's most ironic loanword.
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