Where does “taboo” come from?

Taboo comes from Tongan tapu, from Proto-Polynesian tapu, from Proto-Oceanic tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian tambu, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian tambu.

taboo (English): An inhibition or ban that results from social...

Definitions

  1. An inhibition or ban that results from social...

Ancestry of “taboo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tongantapuprohibited, sacred
2Proto-Polynesiantaputaboo
3Proto-Oceanictabu—
4Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesiantambu—
5Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesiantambu—

Words derived from “taboo”

Every word from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian tambu →Every word from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian tambu →Every word from Proto-Oceanic tabu →
taboo — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer