kabaddi
kəˈbʌdi
noun
Origin
Dravidian languages
kai + pidi — Hand + hold
Overview
Meaning Now
- A team contact sport originating in South Asia, in which a player ('raider') enters the opponent's half of the court, touches as many defenders as possible, and returns to their own half while holding their breath and chanting a set word.
Literal older meaning
The term is widely believed to be derived from the Tamil or Kannada imperative 'kai pidi', meaning 'to hold hands'.
Language path
Tamil/Kannada → Modern South Asian Languages
Earliest form
kavadi / kai-pidi
Earliest period
Ancient
Journey
Kabaddi has roots in ancient Indian history, often linked to military training exercises and local folk games. It was popularized as a competitive sport in the early 20th century, with the first rules codified in Maharashtra, eventually leading to its inclusion in major international sports tournaments.
Evolution
- Ancient
kai-pidi
“holding hands”
Primitive form describing the action of holding an opponent.
- 19th century
kabaddi
“The organized team sport”
Transition from folk game to standardized competitive sport.
Connections
Word parts
kai
root
hand
pidi
root
to hold/catch
Related across languages
Tamil
kaipidi
hand-holding
Kannada
kaipidi
to hold by hand
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.