Where does “Balik Pulau” come from?
Balik Pulau (Malay) comes from Malay balik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *balik — to return; to repeat.
Ancestry of “Balik Pulau”, step by step
Balik Pulau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Malay balik
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malay | balik | back part, behind; to return, to turn |
| 2 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | *balik | to return; to repeat |
via Malay pulau
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malay | pulau | island; to ostracize |