Help with meaning of "kham

[kokesaat]

ป่าคำชะโนด is an attraction in Udon Province. The sacred place is said to be an entrance to the water world and the home of the Naga serpent. The floating island is densely covered in chanot trees It is said to be an entrance to the water world and a legendary place of the great Naga (serpent). The island is densely covered with chanot trees (Livistona saribus, commonly known as taraw palm).

ป่า = forest

คำ = Unknown meaning

ชะโนด - chanot trees

Can anyone help with the meaning (if any) of the word คำ ?

[KhunBENQ]

คำ unknown?

thai-language has an endless discourse about it:

http://www.thai-language.com/id/131373

Another long list:

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/1284178.html

What I can not help: what does it mean in this context

Just guessing from what I find in WiKi คำชะโนด seems to be a fixed term for an "island shaped" forest of these trees.

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%94

Do an image search and you see a couple of the "tree islands":

https://www.google.co.th/search?biw=1280&bih=888&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%94&oq=%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%94&gs_l=img.3..0j0i10i30l3j0i30j0i10i30l5.192511.192511.0.193079.1.1.0.0.0.0.209.209.2-1.1.0.msedr...0...1c.1.64.img..0.1.209.otErXG7vKIc

Edited May 5, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[CMBob]

My ancient Haas dictionary indicates "kam" (คำ) can mean "gold" especially with respect to chemical compounds. My Thai partner indicates that "kam" is also a Lanna word that at times can mean "gold" or "golden" (noun or adjective). So my guess your phrase might mean "Golden Chanot Trees/Forest." If the trees have yellow leaves/flowers at any time of the year or, perhaps, a golden color bark in the sunlight, that should cinch it.

[kokesaat]

Thanks for the replies. I'm aware of what the 'dictionaries' say about the word, but just trying to satisfy some amateur desire to know how the word fits into the place name of ป่าคำชะโนด

Perhaps there's another town/village/place that uses the word คำ.....or maybe it's a regional thing.

[AyG]

Perhaps there's another town/village/place that uses the word คำ.....or maybe it's a regional thing.

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