The talk of the world all around now is about the deadly ‘Corona’virus.This is the right time to discuss about the etymology of the word,’Corona’.
corona (n.)
1650s, "a crown," from Latin corona "a crown, a garland," in ancient Rome especially "a crown or garland bestowed for distinguished military service," from suffixed form of PIE root *sker- (2) "to turn, bend."
With many extended senses in botany, anatomy, etc. A coronavirus (by 1969) is so called for the spikes that protrude from its membranes and resemble the tines of a crown or the corona of the sun.
borrowed from Latin corōna "garland worn on the head as a mark of honor or emblem of majesty, halo around a celestial body, top part of an entablature"
Now,we find that this root is not acceptable for the following obvious reasons:
l This word has come into use only by A.D.1650.That leads to the question,’Was there no coronations before A.D.1650?If so,what was the word used for it?
l The attributed meaning of the word is ‘Garland/wreath’ .There’s no history of any Roman/Greek king ever wearing a garland on his head for coronation .Though flower crowns were worn by Greeks/Romans,there’s not a single image of any king wearing flower crown found in Google search. This leads one to doubt the etymology claimed.
l Even in Olympic games laurel leaf crown was awarded to winners.
l The Latin root does not have any related Latin words.
Then,what’s the etymology of the word,’Corona’?
In ancient times,king does not wear a crown just like that.It was an elaborate process with a defined order of ceremonial procedures.Apart from common people,the Ministers,the nobility,the Army,the High Priest etc.all assembled to witness and celebrate the King being crowned.Festoons were hung all over the town to mark the celebration.This order of celebration is called ‘Thoranai’ தோரணை in the oldest surviving language of the world Tamil.
So,Thoranai means ‘the order of King’s ascension to power’.’Thoranai’includes wearing a ‘crown’ as well as hanging what is called ‘Thoranam’(festoons) all over.This ‘Thoranam’ is a festoon of mango leaves ,as shown below.
According to agarathi.com:
University of Madras Lexicon
தோரணை
Miron Winslow - A Comprehensive Tamil and English Dictionary
தோரணம்
tōraṇam
s. Cords hung with gar lands, palm-leaves, &c., or cloth hung up to adorn a road, in honor of an idol, or great person; or to garnish a house for a festivity; or the parts about a temple for an annual ceremony, &c., மகரிகை. 2. An outward door, a porch or ornamented geteway, சித்திரகோபுரவாயில். (c.) 3. A mound raised near a bathing place for a mark, நீராடுமிடத்திற்கட்டும்வரம்பு. W. p. 386. TORAN'A. 4. (R.) The beam of a balance, தராசுதாங்கி.
தோரணக்கல், s. A stone pillar errect ed in a large tank to show the height of the water, நீராழம்அறியுங்கல்.
தோரணக்கால்--தோரணக்கம்பம், s. Pots supporting garlands, &c. See under கால்.
தோரணங்கட்ட-தோரணந்தூக்க--தோ ரணம்போட, inf. To make lines and deco rations as ornaments, &c. 2. To hang up a string of mango leaves over the door of a temple, or across the road, as an suspicious sight.
தோரணதீபம்--தோரணவிளக்கு, s. Torches in a row used at temple pro cession, made of rolls of cloth dipped in oil and hung by wires to a pole extending across the street, உற்சவவிளக்கு.
தோரணவாயில், s. A porch, portico, lodge, &c., நுழைவாயில்.
So,’Thoranai’ in Tamil means’order of King’s ascension to power’ and ‘Thoranam’means ‘festoons of mango leaves hung all over for celebration’.In course of time,the meaning has corrupted into ‘crown/flower garland’etc.The words are Tamil as proved by the presence of collateral or related words listed above.
The line of derivation of the word Latin/English word ‘Corona’is:
Tamil Thoranai>Thorana>Corona
Tamil Thoranam>Thorana>Corona
Unlike the English word which is just a few hundred years old,the Tamil root word is more than 2000 years old.
The genetic link between Tamil and PIE/Greek/Latin/English is well established already by the research book Proto-Indo-European Language-Face Unveiled ! (Notion Press-2017) By Alvaro Hans https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948096323/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1511490750&sr=8-11&keywords=proto+indo+european
The book establishes that all words relating to royalty in most languages of the world have their root in Tamil word ‘Rasa’ for King.Hence,it's not a surprise that the word for coronation also comes from Tamil roots.
Please read:
https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Tamil-word-Rasa-for-King-used-throughout-the-world/answer/Athi-S-Sundar
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