Where does “kawal” come from?

kawal (Tagalog) comes from Malay kawal, from Tamil காவல், from Tamil கா, from Proto-Dravidian *kā- — to protect, guard.

kawal (Tagalog): soldier; trooper

Definitions

  1. soldier; trooper

Ancestry of “kawal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaykawalto look after, to watch over
2Tamilகாவல்watch, guard, protection, preservation, police
3Tamilகாthe alphasyllabic combination of
4Proto-Dravidian*kā-to protect, guard
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *kā- →Every word from Tamil கா →Every word from Tamil காவல் →