ancient sacred Hindu book, 1734, from Skt. veda "knowledge, sacred book," from root vid- "to know," from PIE base *weid- "to see" (related to wit, and to Avestan vaeda "I know," L. videre "to see;" see vision). The books are the Rig-, Yajur-, Sama-, and Atharva-veda.
1776, from Skt. rigveda, from rg- "song, praise, knowledge" + veda "knowledge." A thousand hymns, orally transmitted, probably dating from before 1000 B.C.E. (source)
