neuter A (dense & dark) cloud, a cloudy mass AN.ii.53; Vin.ii.295 = Mil.273 in list of to things that obscure moon- & sunshine, viz.; abbhaṃ mahikā (mahiyā A) dhūmarajo (megho Miln), Rāhu. This list is referred to at Snp-a.487 & Vv-a.134. SN.i.101 (˚sama pabbata a mountain like a thunder-cloud); Ja.vi.581 (abbhaṃ rajo acchādesi) Pv.iv.3#9 (nīl˚ = nīla-megha Pv-a.251). As f. abbhā at Dhs.617 & Dhs-a.317 (used in sense of adj. “dull” Dhs-a explains by valāhaka); perhaps also in abbhāmatta.
- -kūṭa the point or summit of a storm-cloud Thag.1064; Ja.vi.249, Ja.vi.250; Vv.1#1 (= valāhaka-sikhara Vv-a.12)
- -ghana a mass of clouds, a thick cloud Iti.64; Snp.348 (cp. Snp-a.348).
- -paṭala a mass of clouds Dhs-a.239
- -mutta free from clouds Snp.687 (also as abbhāmutta Dhp.382).
- -saṃvilāpa thundering SN.iv.289.
Vedic abhra nt. & later Sk. abhra m. “dark cloud”; Idg. *m̊bhro, cp. Gr. ἀφρἀφρο scum, froth, Lat. imber rain; also Sk. ambha water, Gr. ο ̓́μβρος rain, Oir ambu water