Etymology

From Sanskrit प्रवेणि ‎(praveṇi, “braid of hair worn by widows or by wives in the absence of their husbands”). Compare Pali paveṇi ‎(“braid of hair; mat, cover; custom, tradition; succession, lineage, race”). Cognate with Khmer បវេណី ‎(bâvénei, “custom; family relations; household”), Khmer ប្រពៃណី ‎(brâpeynei, “custom, tradition”), Lao ປະເວນີ ‎(pa wē nī, “usage, custom, tradition; lineage”).

Pronunciation