Where does “kupu-kupu malam” come from?

kupu-kupu malam (Indonesian) comes from Indonesian malam, from Javanese ꦩꦭꦩ꧀, from Old Javanese malam, from Gujarati મલમ, from Classical Persian مرهم, from Arabic مَرْهَم.

kupu-kupu malam (Indonesian): female prostitute

Definitions

female prostitute

Ancestry of “kupu-kupu malam”, step by step

kupu-kupu malam traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Indonesian malam

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Indonesian	malam	night; wax, paraffin, particularly for making...
2	Javanese	ꦩꦭꦩ꧀	wax
3	Old Javanese	malam	—
4	Gujarati	મલમ	—
5	Classical Persian	مرهم	—
6	Arabic	مَرْهَم	—

via Indonesian kupu-kupu

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Indonesian	kupu-kupu	butterfly
2	Malay	kupu-kupu	butterfly

Every word from Arabic مَرْهَم →Every word from Classical Persian مرهم →Every word from Gujarati મલમ →