Where does “punai” come from?

punai (Indonesian) comes from Malay punai, from Proto-Japonic punay — boat.

punai (Indonesian): green pigeon (any member of the genus Treron of the pigeon family)

Definitions

  1. green pigeon (any member of the genus Treron of the pigeon family)

Ancestry of “punai”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaypunaismall pigeon
2Proto-Japonicpunayboat
Every word from Proto-Japonic punay →Every word from Malay punai →
punai — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer