Where does “kunai” come from?

kunai (English) comes from Tok Pisin kunai, from Tolai kunəi.

kunai (English): A Japanese tool and weapon, possibly derived from...

Definitions

  1. A Japanese tool and weapon, possibly derived from...

Ancestry of “kunai”, step by step

kunai traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tok Pisin kunai

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tok Pisinkunai—
2Tolaikunəi—

via Japanese 苦無

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanese苦無the "kunai" tool and weapon
Every word from Tolai kunəi →Every word from Tok Pisin kunai →