Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kavain” come from?

kavain (English) comes from English kava, from Tongan kava, from Proto-Polynesian kawa, from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ, from Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wakaʀ.

kavain (English): A kavalactone with anticonvulsive properties

Definitions

  1. A kavalactone with anticonvulsive properties

Ancestry of “kavain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkavaA plant from the South Pacific, Piper...
2Tongankavabitter; kava
3Proto-Polynesiankawakava, bitterness; bitter, sour
4Proto-Oceanic*kawaʀ—
5Proto-Oceanic*wakaʀ—
6Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*wakaʀ—
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wakaʀ →