In Nid’s native Thailand, Plumeria was originally called ลั่นทม /lân-tom/, and sounds similar to the word ระทม /rá-tom/ which means “gloomy, sad, and depressed” in Thai. In the past, Thai people believed the plant gives shelter to demons and ghost and should not be planted very close to a house, because it brings bad luck and sorrow. It was normally grown only in the temple areas or graveyards.
In fact, according to linguist, ลั่น /lân/ means “finish, abandon”, and ทม /tom/ from ระทม /rá-tom/ which means “gloomy, sad, and depressed”. So, ลั่นทม /lân-tom/ has a good meaning of “to abandon the sadness”.
There is also another history to the plant, the Plumeria originated in Cambodia. Siam was at war with Kampuchea and beat the Khmer army in นครธม/Nakhornthom, the capital at the time. They brought the plant to Siam and named it “ลั่นธม /lân-thom/” “ลั่น /lân” meaning “beat” and “ธม /thom/” refers to ”นครธม /Nakhornthom”. The spelling was eventually changed to “ลั่นทม /lân-tom”.
For commercial purposes, Plumeria is now called ลีลาวดี /lii-laa-wá-dii which means “graceful movement”. It can now be found in people’s yards and on the grounds of hotels and spas.
****Congrats to kailua.cat&matt on the FTF (geng maak!!!)****
Plumeria