Where does “varaan” come from?

varaan (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch varaan, from Arabic وَرَل, from Proto-Semitic *waral- — monitor lizard.

varaan (Afrikaans): monitor lizard

Definitions

  1. monitor lizard

Ancestry of “varaan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchvaraanThe monitor lizard, a lizard of the genus...
2Arabicوَرَلmonitor lizard
3Proto-Semitic*waral-monitor lizard
Every word from Proto-Semitic *waral- →Every word from Arabic وَرَل →Every word from Dutch varaan →