Where does “*kava-pusi” come from?

*kava-pusi (Proto-Polynesian) comes from Proto-Polynesian kawa, from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ, from Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wakaʀ — root.

Ancestry of “*kava-pusi”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesiankawakava, bitterness; bitter, sour
2Proto-Oceanic*kawaʀpotent root root of a plant with strong properties: e.g. ginger
3Proto-Oceanic*wakaʀ
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*wakaʀroot
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wakaʀEvery word from Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀEvery word from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ