Where does “kapala” come from?

kapala (North Moluccan Malay) comes from Malay kepala, from Sanskrit कपाल, from Proto-Indo-Iranian kapā́las, from Proto-Indo-European káp-ōl-, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.

kapala (North Moluccan Malay): head

Definitions

  1. head

Ancestry of “kapala”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaykepalahead; leader, chief, head
2Sanskritकपालskull, cranium; bowl
3Proto-Indo-Iraniankapā́lasskull
4Proto-Indo-Europeankáp-ōl-head, bowl
5Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European káp-ōl- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian kapā́las →