mother, good wife used as a general endearing term for a woman Vin.i.232; DN.ii.97 (here in play of words with Ambapālī expl^d. by Bdhgh at Vin.i.385 as ambakā ti itthiyikā).

Sk. ambikā demin. of ambī mother, wife, see P. amma & cp. also Sk. ambālikā f.