Where does “தேய்” come from?
தேய் (Tamil) comes from Malay teh, from Malay putih, from Classical Malay putih, from Proto-Malayic putih, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (ma-)putiq — white.
தேய் (Tamil): to wear away by friction; to be rubbed
Definitions
- to wear away by friction; to be rubbed
Ancestry of “தேய்”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malay | teh | tea |
| 2 | Malay | putih | white |
| 3 | Classical Malay | putih | white |
| 4 | Proto-Malayic | putih | white |
| 5 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | (ma-)putiq | white |