Where does “matapea” come from?
matapea (Rapa Nui) comes from Rapa Nui mata, from Proto-Polynesian mata, from Proto-Oceanic *mata-, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian mata, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian mata, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian mata, from Proto-Austronesian mata, from Proto-Austronesian maCa — eye organ.
matapea (Rapa Nui): a tattoo below the eyes
Definitions
- a tattoo below the eyes
Ancestry of “matapea”, step by step
matapea traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Rapa Nui mata
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapa Nui | mata | eye |
| 2 | Proto-Polynesian | mata | eye |
| 3 | Proto-Oceanic | *mata- | eye organ |
| 4 | Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian | mata | eye |
| 5 | Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian | mata | eye |
| 6 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | mata | eye |
| 7 | Proto-Austronesian | mata | eye |
| 8 | Proto-Austronesian | maCa | eye organ |
via Rapa Nui pea
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapa Nui | pea | twig |