गृञ्जन

Uncertain.

Monier-Williams proposes a derivation from गृज् (gṛj, “to rumble, sound”), itself from गर्ज् (garj) and thus Proto-Indo-European *gerh₂- (“to cry hoarsely”), but this presents semantic difficulties. There is also the phonetic problem of the extra [ñ]. Compare, however, गार्जर (gārjara, “carrot”).

Mayrhofer tentatively connects this with Ancient Greek γέλγις (gélgis, “head of garlic”) and Swedish kälk, but this is also uncertain. He also originally considered a potential connection with गञ्जा (gañjā, “hemp”), but later doubts this.

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɡr̩ɲ.d͡ʑɐ.nɐ/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈɡr̩ɲ.d͡ʑɐ.n̪ɐ/

गृञ्जन • (gṛñjana) n

1. turnip
2. a small red variety of garlic or onion (prohibited as food for द्विज) Mn. v , 5 Ya1jn5. i , 176 Bhpr.
3. the tops of hemp chewed to produce an inebriating effect (the ganja) W.
4. the meat of an animal destroyed by poisoned arrow; 'अथ गृञ्जनं विषदिग्धपशोर्मांसे' Medinī. । Mb.13.9.39.

• Monier Williams (1899), “गृञ्जन”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 361.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (2001), “gṛñjana- - gairika”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎ (in German), volume III, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 161
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956), “gúhā—gṛñjanaḥ”, in Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary] (in German), volume I, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 342
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956), “gañjavaraḥ—gaḍaḥ”, in Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary] (in German), volume I, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 315