Main Entry:

lin·gam

Pronunciation:

\ˈliŋ-gəm\

Variant(s):

or lin·ga \-gə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Sanskrit liṅga (nominative liṅgam), literally, characteristic

Date:

1719

: a stylized phallic symbol that is worshipped in Hinduism as a sign of generative power and that represents the god Shiva — compare yoni