Usabha1 [Vedic ṛṣabha; Av. aršan male, Gr. a)/rshn, a)/rrhn masculine, to Idg. *eres & *rēs to wet, sprinkle (with semen), as also in Sk. rasa juice, rasā wet, liquid, Lat. rōs dew. A parallel root *ueres in Sk. varṣa rain, Gr. e)/rsh dew; Sk. vṛṣan & vṛṣabha bull] a bull; often fig. as symbol of manliness and strength (cp. nisabha) D i.6 (˚yuddha bull -- fight), 9 (˚lakkhaṇa signs on a b.), 127; Vin iii.39 (puris˚ "bull of a man", a very strong man); A i.188; ii.207; iv.41 sq., 376; v.347, 350; Sn 26 sq., 416, 646, 684; Dh 422; J i.28 (v.203; ˚kkhandha broadshouldered), 336; v.99 (bharatûsabha); vi.136; Pug 56; Vism 153 (˚camma, in simile); DhA i.396; SnA 226, 333; KhA 144; PvA 163; VvA 85. -- The compn. forms of usabha are āsabha, isabha (in nisabha) & esabha (q. v.). The relations between usabha, vasabha & nisabha are discussed at SnA 40.