Ayo & Aya

neuter iron. The nom. ayo found only in set of 5 metals forming an alloy of gold (jātarūpa), viz ayo, loha (copper), tipu (tin), sīsa (lead), sajjha (silver AN.iii.16 = SN.v.92; of obl. cases only the instr. ayasā occurs Dhp.240 (= ayato Dhp-a.iii.344); Pv.i.10#13 (paṭikujjita, of Niraya)
■ Iron is the material used κα ̓τἐςοξήν in the outfit & construction of Purgatory or Niraya (see niraya & Avīci & cp. Vism.56 sq.)
■ In comp^n. both ayo˚ & aya˚ occur as bases.

1. ayo˚

   • -kapāla an iron pot AN.iv.70 (variant reading ˚guhala) Cnd.304#iii. d.2 (of Niraya).
   • -kūṭa an iron hammer Pv-a.284.
   • -khīla an iron stake SN.v.444; MN.iii.183 = Cnd.304#iii. c; Snp-a.479.
   • -guḷa an iron ball SN.v.283; Dhp.308; Iti.43 = Iti.90; Thig.489; DN-a.i.84.
   • -ghana an iron club Ud.93; Vv-a.20.
   • -ghara an iron house Ja.iv.492.
   • -paṭala an iron roof or ceiling (of Niraya) Pv-a.52.
   • -pākāra an iron fence Pv.i.10#13 = Cnd.304#iii. d.1.
   • -maya made of iron Snp.669 (kūṭa); Ja.iv.492 (nāvā); Pv.i.10#14 (bhūmi of N.); Pv-a.43, Pv-a.52.
   • -muggara an iron club Pv-a.55
   • -saṅku an iron spike SN.iv.168; Snp.667.

2. aya˚

   • -kapāla = ayo˚ Dhp-a.i.148 (variant reading ayo˚).
   • -kāra a worker in iron Mil.331.
   • -kūṭa = ayo˚ Ja.i.108; Dhp-a.ii.69 (variant reading).
   • -naṅgala an iron plough Dhp-a.i.223; Dhp-a.iii.67
   • -paṭṭaka an iron plate or sheet (cp. loha˚) Ja.v.359
   • -paṭhavi an iron floor (of Avīci) Dhp-a.i.148.
   • -saṅghāṭaka an iron (door) post Dhp-a.iv.104.
   • -sūla an iron stake Snp.667; Dhp-a.i.148.

Sk. ayaḥ nt. iron & ore, Idg. *ajes-, cp. Av. ayah, Lat. aes, Goth. aiz, Ohg. ēr (= Ger. Erz.) Ags. ār (= E. ore).