Where does “matabang” come from?

matabang (Tagalog) comes from Bikol Central tabang, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tabaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *tabaN — head trophy trophy taken in headhunting.

matabang (Tagalog): bland; insipid; tasteless

Definitions

  1. bland; insipid; tasteless

Ancestry of “matabang”, step by step

matabang traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Bikol Central tabang

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Bikol Centraltabang
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*tabaŋ
3Proto-Austronesian*tabaNhead trophy trophy taken in headhunting

via Tagalog tabang

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tagalogtabangblandness
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*taq(ə)baŋ

via Sambali ma

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sambalima
Every word from Proto-Austronesian *tabaNEvery word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tabaŋEvery word from Bikol Central tabang