Where does “मराठा” come from?

मराठा (Marathi) comes from Sanskrit महाराष्ट्र, from Sanskrit महत्, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́, from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s — big, great.

मराठा (Marathi): Maratha; a Maharashtrian

Definitions

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Sanskrit	महाराष्ट्र	—
2	Sanskrit	महत्	great, large, big, huge, ample, extensive, long,...
3	Proto-Indo-Iranian	maȷ́ʰā́	big, great
4	Proto-Indo-European	méǵh₂s	big, great

मराठा — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer