Where does “whata” come from?

whata (Maori) comes from Proto-Polynesian fata, from Proto-Oceanic pataʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian pataʀ — shelf; bedframe.

whata (Maori): shelf

Definitions

  1. shelf

Ancestry of “whata”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesianfatashelf; bedframe
2Proto-Oceanicpataʀplatform, including a bedframe of planks
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianpataʀshelf; bedframe
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian pataʀ →Every word from Proto-Oceanic pataʀ →Every word from Proto-Polynesian fata →