rib, only in pl. phāsukā Vin.i.74 (upaḍḍha˚ bhañjitabbā), in phrase sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā Ja.i.493 (lit.), which is fig. applied at Dhp.154 (explained as “sabbā avasesa-kilesa-phāsukā bhaggā” at Dhp-a.iii.128), with which cp. bhaggā phāsū at Mil.146; both the latter phrases prob. of diff. origin
■ (adj.) (-˚) in phrase mahā˚passa the flank (lit. the side of the great ribs Ja.i.164, Ja.i.179; Ja.iii.273; abs. mahā˚; with great ribs Ja.v.42; uggata˚; with prominent ribs Pv-a.68 (for upphāsulika adj. Pv.ii.1#1)
■ in compounds as phāsuka˚; e.g. -aṭṭhīni the rib-bones (of which there are 24) Vism.254 (variant reading pāsuka˚); Vb-a.237; -dvaya pair of ribs Vism.252 Vb-a.235
■ See also pāsuka, pāsuḷa & the foll.

cp. Sk *pārśukā & Ved. pārśva, see passa²