bhikkhu

an almsman, a mendicant, a Buddhist monk or priest, a bhikkhu.
■ nom. sg. bhikkhu freq. passim; Vin.iii.40 (vuḍḍhapabbajita); AN.i.78 (thera bh., an elder bh.; and nava bh. a young bh.); AN.iii.299 (id.); AN.iv.25 (id.); Snp.276, Snp.360 Snp.411 sq., Snp.915 sq., Snp.1041, Snp.1104; Dhp.31, Dhp.266 sq., Dhp.364 sq. Dhp.378; Vv.80#1;
■ acc. bhikkhuṃ Vin.iii.174; Dhp.362; bhikkhunaṃ Snp.87, Snp.88, Snp.513;
■ gen. dat. bhikkhuno AN.i.274; Snp.221, Snp.810, Snp.961; Dhp.373; Pv.i.10#10; & bhikkhussa AN.i.230; Vin.iii.175;
■ instr. bhikkhunā Snp.389
■ pl. nom. bhikkhū Vin.ii.150; Vin.iii.175; DN.iii.123; Vism.152 (in sim.); Vb-a.305 (compared with amaccaputtā) & bhikkhavo Snp.384, Snp.573; Dhp.243, Dhp.283;
■ acc bhikkhu Snp.p.78; MN.i.84; Vv.22#10; & bhikkhavo Snp.384, Snp.573;
■ gen. dat. bhikkhūnaṃ Vin.iii.285; DN.iii.264; Snp.1015; Pv.ii.1#7; & bhikkhunaṃ SN.i.190; Thag.1231
■ instr. bhikkhūhi Vin.iii.175;
■ loc. bhikkhūsu AN.iv.25 & bhikkhusu Thag.241, Thag.1207; Dhp.73;
■ voc. bhikkhave (a Māgadhī form of nom. bhikkhavaḥ) Vin.iii.175; Snp.p.78; Vv-a.127; Pv-a.8, Pv-a.39, Pv-a.166; & bhikkhavo Snp.280 Snp.385.

There are several allegorical etymologies (definitions of the word bhikkhu, which occur frequently in the commentaries. All are fanciful interpretations of the idea of what a bhikkhu is or should be, and these qualities were sought and found in the word itself Thus we mention here the foll.

1. bhikkhu = bhinnakilesa (“one who has broken the stains” i.e. of bad character) Vb-a.328; Vv-a.29, Vv-a.114, Vv-a.310;