nila
nila Lexical Profile
• noun
A major and culturally significant river in the state of Kerala, India, officially known as the Bharathappuzha.
A traditional term of Sanskrit origin referring to the color dark blue or an indigo dye.
"The ancient texts frequently mention nila as the color associated with the cosmos and certain deities."
A coastal mangrove shrub (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea) historically abundant along the shores of Manila Bay.
"Historians note that the abundance of nila along the estuarine shores eventually gave the city of Manila its name."
• Rhymes for nila
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Sanskrit word 'nīla' (नील), meaning dark blue, sapphire, or indigo. In the Philippine context, it is a variant of 'nilad', the mangrove shrub from which the city name Manila ('Maynila', meaning 'where there is nilad') originates.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.