kumkumn.
/ˈkʊmkʊm/ A red powder used ceremonially, and by Hindu women to make a small distinctive spot on the forehead; the spot so made. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the face > [noun] > adorning with patches > ornamental patches or spots > worn by Hindus
bindi1872
tilak1879
tika1884
kumkum1938
1938 K. van A. Gates tr. Ramabai Ranade Himself vii. 57 A pleasant custom..allows a hostess at a ladies' party to apply a dot of red powder (kunku) to the forehead of each guest.
1938 K. van A. Gates tr. Ramabai Ranade Himself xv. 133 Don't you have the custom of wearing..kunku marks, and such things?
1943 F. R. Moraes & H. R. Stimson Introd. India (ed. 3) 113 Hindu women wear on the forehead a red dot (called kumkum, which is also the name of the powder from which it is made). An orthodox Hindu widow does not wear a kumkum.
1958 Times 15 Oct. 24/5 Mrs. Usha Rajwade, who earlier..rubbed on Kum-Kum powder.
1969 Commerce (Bombay) 26 July 149/3 Sometime back there was understandable furore in the city of Bombay when some missionary school asked the girls not to apply kumkum which is a sign of good fortune for an Indian girl.
1973 Guardian 14 Apr. 11/3 God needs offerings—garlands, coconuts, kum-kum powder, incense.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1976; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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