Sinhalese róhita (8)
Clough’s Sinhala English Dictionary says Sinhalese word róhita means “red (the colour).” It also refers to a “fish, Cyprinus denticulatus; kind of deer; tree, Andersonia rohitaka; Indra’s bow unbent and invisible to mortals; safflower, Carthamus tinctorius; blood; and coral tree, Erythrina indica.” It originates from the Tamil root ar. The Tamil ar changes into róhita in Sinhalese through the transformation of ar > ru > rudh/ruh > róhita. The following words, related to Sinhalese róhita, also originate from Tamil ar.
róhiṇi, fourth lunar asterism figured by a wheeled carriage and containing five stars, probably, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Tauri: in mythology, the asterism is personified as one of the daughters of Daksha, and wives of the moon; mother of Balaráma; cow; inflammatory affection of the throat; lightning; medicinal plant, called kaṭukarósana; moon plant, Asclepias acida; yellow myrobalan, Terminalia chebula; Indian madder, Oldenlandia or Hedyotis umbellata; creeping plant, Sarcostemma brunonianum, tree, Adenanthera pavonina. róhiṇí-pati, róhiṇi-wallabha, (nymph, or lover) moon. róhiṇísa, moon. róhiṇéya, name of Balaráma; the planet Mercury; emerald; calf. róhin, the Indian fig-tree; the holy fig-tree; the Andersonia rohitaka. róhisha, tree, Morinda citrifolia and Tinctoria; sort of grass; the Róhi, a kind of fish; a deer said to resemble an ass.