Where does “papamahi” come from?

papamahi (Maori) comes from Maori papa, from Proto-Polynesian *papa, from Proto-Oceanic *papan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *papan — plank, board.

Ancestry of “papamahi”, step by step

papamahi traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Maori papa

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Maoripaparump
2Proto-Polynesian*papaboard, plank
3Proto-Oceanic*papan—
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*papanplank, board

via Maori mahi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Maorimahito work, do, perform, make, accomplish, practise,...
2Proto-Polynesian*mafi—
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *papan →