Etymology
Of the names Khek and Wang Thong, Khek (Thai: เข็ก) is the older name for the river. The work Khek is another name for the ethnicity more commonly known as Hakka. The two words are cognates of Chinese 客家 (meaning house-guest). The river derives its modern name Wang Thong from its path through Amphoe Wang Thong. The first element wang (Thai: วัง) means palace. The second element thong (Thai: ทอง) means gold. This Thai word for gold was borrowed from the Tamil language of Sri Lanka. The name of the river translates to River of the Golden Palace.
Read more about this topic: Wang Thong River
Famous quotes containing the word etymology:
“Semantically, taste is rich and confusing, its etymology as odd and interesting as that of “style.” But while style—deriving from the stylus or pointed rod which Roman scribes used to make marks on wax tablets—suggests activity, taste is more passive.... Etymologically, the word we use derives from the Old French, meaning touch or feel, a sense that is preserved in the current Italian word for a keyboard, tastiera.”
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—Giambattista Vico (1688–1744)