Where does “rau” come from?

rau (Maori) comes from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ʀatus, from Proto-Austronesian ʀaCus — hundred.

rau (Maori): leaf; hundred

Definitions

  1. leaf; hundred

Ancestry of “rau”, step by step

rau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ʀatus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Malayo-Polynesianʀatushundred
2Proto-AustronesianʀaCushundred

via Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *lau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian*lau—
Every word from Proto-Austronesian ʀaCus →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ʀatus →