1. clay Ja.vi.372; Mhvs.29, Mhvs.5 sq
   ■ tamba˚; red clay Dhp-a.iv.106; Pv-a.191. mattikā pl. kinds of clay (used in cosmetics, like Fuller’s earth) Ja.v.89 (nānā-cunṇāni mattikā; see also cuṇṇa).
2. loam, mud MN.iii.94 (alla˚ fresh loam or mud); Vism.123 (aruṇa-vaṇṇā) Kp-a.59 (paṇḍu); Vv-a.65; Pv-a.216 (aruṇa-vaṇṇā).

• -thāla bowl of clay Dhp-a.iv.67.
• -piṇḍa a lump of clay or loam DN-a.i.289; same trope at Pv-a.175.

cp. Vedic mṛttikā, der. fr. Vedic mṛt (mṛd) soil, earth, clay; with P. maṇḍa, Sk, vimradati. Gr. βλαδαρός soft, Osil. mylsna dust, Goth. mulda, Ags molde (E. mould, mole = mouldwarp), to same root mṛd as in Sk. mṛdu = Lat. mollis soft, Gr. ἀμαλδύνω to weaken, Sk. mardati & mṛdnāti to crush, powder, Caus mardayati; also in cognate -mḷd as appearing in Gr. μέλδω to melt = Ags meltan, Ohg. smëlzan