ba·hu·vri·hi (b  h -vr  h)n. pl. ba·hu·vri·his A compound word functioning as an adjective whose last element is in origin a noun. For example, in the phrase high-fiber diet, the compound high-fiber is a bahuvrihi modifying diet that ends in the noun fiber. [Sanskrit bahuvr  hi , having much rice (an example of the type) : bahu-, much + vrhi, rice.] |
bahuvrihi [ˌbɑːhuːˈvriːhiː]
n Linguistics
1. (Linguistics) a class of compound words consisting of two elements the first of which is a specific feature of the second
2. (Linguistics) a compound word of this type, such as hunchback, bluebell, highbrow
[from Sanskrit bahuvrīhi, itself this type of compound, from bahu much + vrīh rice]
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