Where does “kahoya” come from?

kahoya (Cebuano) comes from Cebuano kahoy, from Proto-Philippine kahiw, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian kahiw, from Proto-Austronesian kaSiw — wood; tree.

Ancestry of “kahoya”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Cebuanokahoya tree; wood; lumber; timber; firewood
2Proto-Philippinekahiwwood; tree
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesiankahiwwood; tree
4Proto-AustronesiankaSiwwood; tree
Every word from Proto-Austronesian kaSiwEvery word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian kahiwEvery word from Proto-Philippine kahiw