Where does “mata-mata” come from?

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

mata-mata (Malay): plural of mata; policeman; spy

Definitions

  1. plural of mata; policeman; spy

Ancestry of “mata-mata”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaymataeye; edge; hole
2Proto-Malayicmataeye
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianmataeye
4Proto-Austronesianmataeye
5Proto-AustronesianmaCaeye organ

Words derived from “mata-mata”

Every word from Proto-Austronesian maCa →