Iṭṭhakā (Itthakā)

feminine

1. a burnt brick a tile Vin.ii.121 (˚pākara a brick wall, distinguished fr silāpakāra & dāru˚); Ja.iii.435, Ja.iii.446 (pākār iṭṭhikā read ˚aṭṭhakā); Ja.v.213 (rattiṭṭhikā); Vism.355 (˚dārugomaya) Pv-a.4 (˚cuṇṇa-makkhita-sīsa the head rubbed with brickpowder i.e. plaster; a ceremony performed on one to be executed, cp. Mṛcchakaṭika x.5 piṣṭa-cūṛn’âvakīrṇaśca puruṣo ’haṃ paśūkṛtaḥ with striking equation iṣṭaka → piṣṭa).
2. pl. (as suvaṇṇa˚) gold or gilt tiles used for covering a cetiya or tope Dhp-a.iii.29, Dhp-a.iii.61; Vv-a.157.

BSk. iṣṭakā, e.g. Divy.221; from the Idg. root *idh → *aidh to burn, cp. Sk. idhma firewood inddhe to kindle (idh or indh), edhaḥ fuel; Gr. ἀίχω burn, α ̔ϊχος fire-brand; Lat. aedes, aestas & aestus more especially Av. ištya tile, brick