Where does “அஞ்சலகம்” come from?

அஞ்சலகம் (Tamil) comes from Tamil அஞ்சல், from Tamil அஞ்சு, from Tamil ஐந்து, from Proto-Dravidian *cay — five.

Ancestry of “அஞ்சலகம்”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilஅஞ்சல்letter post; mail
2Tamilஅஞ்சுto fear, dread
3Tamilஐந்துfive (numeral:௫)
4Proto-Dravidian*cayfive
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *cay →Every word from Tamil ஐந்து →Every word from Tamil அஞ்சு →