Where does “mata-mata” come from?

mata-mata (Indonesian) comes from Malay mata-mata, from Malay mata, from Proto-Malayic mata, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian mata, from Proto-Austronesian mata, from Proto-Austronesian maCa — eye organ.

mata-mata (Indonesian): plural of mata; spy

Definitions

  1. plural of mata; spy

Ancestry of “mata-mata”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaymata-mataplural of mata; policeman; spy
2Malaymataeye; edge; hole
3Proto-Malayicmataeye
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesianmataeye
5Proto-Austronesianmataeye
6Proto-AustronesianmaCaeye organ
Every word from Proto-Austronesian maCa →