Where does “helai” come from?

helai (Indonesian) comes from Malay helai, from Tamil இலை, from Old Tamil 𑀇𑀮𑁃, from Proto-Dravidian *elay.

helai (Indonesian): sheet

Definitions

  1. sheet

Ancestry of “helai”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayhelaiclassifier for thin, flat, flexible objects such as cloth, paper, leaves, or shirts
2Tamilஇலைleaf; betel leaf
3Old Tamil𑀇𑀮𑁃leaf
4Proto-Dravidian*elay—
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *elay →Every word from Old Tamil 𑀇𑀮𑁃 →Every word from Tamil இலை →