The Keris in Early Javanese Literature

A. G. Maisey · 7th July 2008, 12:33 AM

Fearn, please allow me to clarify my position in respect of these words.

In the Javanese language, the common, everyday word for a keris is "keris". In formal, or ceremonial levels of the language, other words are used, however, that does not concern us, in the English language, we use the word "keris" in all applications.

When we start to look to Sanscrit for the origin of the word "keris", we can find a number of possibilities. I will not explore them all, as any expedition into Sanscrit for the origin of "keris" automatically becomes hypothetical, however, I will mention that the word "kris" does exist in Sanscrit, where it has connections with the concept of thinness, and with a bowman. There are also other Sanscrit words that could provide a good argument for the origin of the word keris, especially when we consider the esoteric nature of the keris.

Regretably, one of these words is not "kalis". I cannot find the word "kalis" or "khalis" in Macdonell ( Sanscrit dictionary), and a search in the online Cologne Digital Sanscrit Lexicon also does not produce these words.Nor are they to be found in Capeller's Sanscrit-English Dictionary. Nor do the words occur in either Tamil or Pahlavi.

On the other hand, using Zoetmulder as my reference, the word "kris" does appear in Old Javanese, derivatives of "kris" are akris:- to use or wear a keris, and anris or kinris:- to stab with a keris. The word "iris" also appears in Old Javanese, and its derivates are aniris, iniris, kahiris:- slice or cut.

I am not a linguist, and although I can read romanised Old Javanese, I am in no way an expert on the language, however, to me there does appear to be a distinct relationship between the idea of a cutting weapon called a kris, and the idea of cutting, expressed by the word "iris". I am not claiming that "kris" is a derivative of "iris", I am saying that in the Old Javanese mind there was a relationship between the two ideas, the act of cutting, and an implement that cut, and this commonality of thought process was expressed in a commonality of sound.

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7th July 2008, 12:33 AM	#19
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Fearn, please allow me to clarify my position in respect of these words. In the Javanese language, the common, everyday word for a keris is "keris". In formal, or ceremonial levels of the language, other words are used, however, that does not concern us, in the English language, we use the word "keris" in all applications. When we start to look to Sanscrit for the origin of the word "keris", we can find a number of possibilities. I will not explore them all, as any expedition into Sanscrit for the origin of "keris" automatically becomes hypothetical, however, I will mention that the word "kris" does exist in Sanscrit, where it has connections with the concept of thinness, and with a bowman. There are also other Sanscrit words that could provide a good argument for the origin of the word keris, especially when we consider the esoteric nature of the keris. Regretably, one of these words is not "kalis". I cannot find the word "kalis" or "khalis" in Macdonell ( Sanscrit dictionary), and a search in the online Cologne Digital Sanscrit Lexicon also does not produce these words.Nor are they to be found in Capeller's Sanscrit-English Dictionary. Nor do the words occur in either Tamil or Pahlavi. On the other hand, using Zoetmulder as my reference, the word "kris" does appear in Old Javanese, derivatives of "kris" are akris:- to use or wear a keris, and anris or kinris:- to stab with a keris. The word "iris" also appears in Old Javanese, and its derivates are aniris, iniris, kahiris:- slice or cut. I am not a linguist, and although I can read romanised Old Javanese, I am in no way an expert on the language, however, to me there does appear to be a distinct relationship between the idea of a cutting weapon called a kris, and the idea of cutting, expressed by the word "iris". I am not claiming that "kris" is a derivative of "iris", I am saying that in the Old Javanese mind there was a relationship between the two ideas, the act of cutting, and an implement that cut, and this commonality of thought process was expressed in a commonality of sound.