Where does “katabang” come from?

katabang (Cebuano) comes from Cebuano tabang, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tabaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *tabaN — head trophy trophy taken in headhunting.

katabang (Cebuano): a female servant or cleaner; a maid

Definitions

  1. a female servant or cleaner; a maid

Ancestry of “katabang”, step by step

katabang traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Cebuano tabang

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1CebuanotabangTo aid, to assist, to help; help, aid, assistance
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*tabaŋ
3Proto-Austronesian*tabaNhead trophy trophy taken in headhunting

via Cebuano ka

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Cebuanoka

via Bikol Central ka

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Bikol Centralka
Every word from Proto-Austronesian *tabaNEvery word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tabaŋEvery word from Cebuano tabang
katabang — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer