Where does “குடிநீர்” come from?

குடிநீர் (Tamil) comes from Tamil நீர், from Old Tamil 𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁰, from Proto-Dravidian nīr — you; water.

Ancestry of “குடிநீர்”, step by step

குடிநீர் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil நீர்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilநீர்water
2Old Tamil𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁰y'all
3Proto-Dravidiannīryou; water

via Tamil குடி

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilகுடிto drink
2Dravidiandra—
3Proto-Dravidian*cīntudate palm
Every word from Proto-Dravidian nīr →Every word from Old Tamil 𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁰 →Every word from Tamil நீர் →