tám

1. feather

• Mark Van de Velde, A Grammar of Eton (2008, →ISBN

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʰɔɑːm/
• Rhymes: -ɔɑːm
• Hyphenation: tám

tám n

1. haze, mist
2. thin smoke, haze or mist of smoke

• "tám" at Sprotin.fo

From Proto-Cushitic *sazħ-. Cognate to Afar sidóc, Hadiyya saso, Oromo sadii, Saho adox, Sidamo sásse, Kambaata sáso and Somali saddex, Awngi šuɣa, Blin säxʷa, Qimant siɣʷä, Xamtanga šaqʷa.

tám

1. three

• Mous, Maarten, Qorro, Martha, Kießling, Roland (2002) Iraqw-English Dictionary (Kuschitische Sprachstudien), volume 18, Köln, Germany: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, →ISBN, page 87

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [taːm˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [taːm˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [taːm˦˥]

• Audio (Hà Nội):

  (file)

• Audio (Saigon):

  (file)

From Proto-Vietic *saːmʔ, from Proto-Mon-Khmer *t₁haam (Shorto). Cognate with Muong thảm, Bahnar tơhngam/hngam, Mon ဒ္စာံ (həcam), Bolyu saːm⁵³.

This word occurs in several compounds with the figurative meaning of "many". Compare Chinese 八 (bā, “eight, many”), Old Japanese 八 (ya, “eight, many”). See also the similar usage of "seven" for "many, all" in other languages (seven seas (“all the seas”), city of seven hills (“hilly city”), etc.).

tám (糝, 𠔭, 𫤯, 参)

1. eight

Perhaps related to Etymology 1. Compare bà tám (“very talkative woman”), Chinese 八 (bát, “eight; to gossip”).

tám

1. (Southern Vietnam) to chat
2. (Southern Vietnam) to gossip

• tán