Where does “mala” come from?

mala (Malay) comes from Sanskrit मल, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

mala (Malay): dirty, impure

Definitions

  1. dirty, impure

Ancestry of “mala”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritमलdirty; niggardly?; unbelieving, godless
2Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂- →