The month was a summer month in pre-Islamic times before the Quranic prohibition against leap months (Quran 9:37). Hence without doubt from the root ر م ض (r m ḍ), and related to رَمَض (ramaḍ, “parchedness, scorchedness”) and رَمْضَاء (ramḍāʔ, “sun-baked ground”). Compare also اِرْتَمَضَ (irtamaḍa, “to be consumed by grief and sorrow”).