noun
kama
kah-muh
noun
1
A curved, sickle-shaped hand weapon, originally an Okinawan farming tool used for cutting crops before it became a martial-arts weapon.
"The instructor demonstrated a kata using a pair of kama."
"Kama were once ordinary rice-harvesting sickles before farmers adapted them for self-defence."
2
In Hindu philosophy, desire or pleasure — especially sensual and aesthetic enjoyment — regarded as one of life’s four legitimate goals.
"Kama is listed alongside dharma, artha, and moksha as one of the four aims of life in Hindu thought."
"The Kama Sutra takes its name from this concept of desire and pleasure."
How to Use Kama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a curved bladed weapon derived from a farm sickle, or the Sanskrit concept of desire/pleasure in Hindu philosophy.
Common mistake
These are two unrelated words that happen to share a spelling — one Japanese, one Sanskrit. Context (martial arts vs. philosophy/religion) tells you which is meant.
Word Forms
kama plural, Kamas plural
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The instructor demonstrated a kata using a pair of _____.
Etymology
The weapon sense comes from Japanese kama, "sickle." The Hindu philosophical sense is a separate word from Sanskrit, meaning "desire."