Where does “burung hantu” come from?

burung hantu (Malay) comes from Malay hantu, from Proto-Malayic hantu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qanitu, from Proto-Austronesian qaNiCu — ghost; owl.

burung hantu (Malay): owl a bird

Definitions

  1. owl a bird

Ancestry of “burung hantu”, step by step

burung hantu traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Malay hantu

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayhantughost; demon
2Proto-Malayichantughost; owl
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianqanitughost; owl
4Proto-AustronesianqaNiCughost; owl

via Malay burung

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayburungbird; penis
2Classical Malayبوروڠ—
3Proto-Malayic*buruŋbird
Every word from Proto-Austronesian qaNiCu →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qanitu →Every word from Proto-Malayic hantu →