Where does “antu” come from?

antu (Iban) comes from Proto-Malayic hantu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qanitu, from Proto-Austronesian qaNiCu — ghost; owl.

antu (Iban): devil, demon wicked spirit

Definitions

  1. devil, demon wicked spirit

Ancestry of “antu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Malayichantughost; owl
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesianqanitughost; owl
3Proto-AustronesianqaNiCughost; owl
Every word from Proto-Austronesian qaNiCu →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qanitu →Every word from Proto-Malayic hantu →