Where does “iluppai” come from?

iluppai (English) comes from Tamil இலுப்பை, from Tamil இருப்பை, from Proto-Dravidian *iruppay — mahua tree, Bassia longifolia.

Ancestry of “iluppai”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilஇலுப்பைmahua, mowra butter tree
2Tamilஇருப்பைmahua, mowra butter tree (Madhuca longifolia, syn. Bassia longifolia)
3Proto-Dravidian*iruppaymahua tree, Bassia longifolia
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *iruppay →Every word from Tamil இருப்பை →Every word from Tamil இலுப்பை →
iluppai — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer