Where does “otak-otak” come from?

otak-otak (Malay) comes from Malay otak, from Malay utak, from Proto-Malayic *u(n)tək, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hutək,*qutək,*qutak.

otak-otak (Malay): plural of otak: brains; otak-otak

Definitions

  1. plural of otak: brains; otak-otak

Ancestry of “otak-otak”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayotakbrain
2MalayutakObsolete form of otak
3Proto-Malayic*u(n)təkbrain organ
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*hutək,*qutək,*qutak—

Words derived from “otak-otak”

Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hutək,*qutək,*qutak →Every word from Proto-Malayic *u(n)tək →Every word from Malay utak →