Where does “bata” come from?
bata (Swahili) comes from Arabic بَطّ, from Persian بت, from Middle Persian bwt', from Bactrian Βοδδο, from Sanskrit बुद्ध, from Proto-Indo-Aryan buddʰás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian bʰudᶻdʰás, from Proto-Indo-European bʰudʰtós — to be awake, be aware.
bata (Swahili): duck
Ancestry of “bata”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Arabic | بَطّ | duck |
| 2 | Persian | بت | duck; idol; Buddha |
| 3 | Middle Persian | bwt' | Buddha; idol |
| 4 | Bactrian | Βοδδο | — |
| 5 | Sanskrit | बुद्ध | awake; enlightened, conscious, intelligent,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | buddʰás | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | bʰudᶻdʰás | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰudʰtós | aware |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰewdʰ- | to be awake, be aware |