Where does “தேய்நீர்” come from?

தேய்நீர் (Tamil) comes from Tamil தேய், from Malay teh, from Malay putih, from Classical Malay putih, from Proto-Malayic putih, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (ma-)putiq — white.

Ancestry of “தேய்நீர்”, step by step

தேய்நீர் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil தேய்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilதேய்to wear away by friction; to be rubbed
2Malaytehtea
3Malayputihwhite
4Classical Malayputihwhite
5Proto-Malayicputihwhite
6Proto-Malayo-Polynesian(ma-)putiqwhite

via Tamil நீர்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilநீர்water
2Old Tamil𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁰y'all
3Proto-Dravidiannīryou; water
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (ma-)putiq →Every word from Proto-Malayic putih →Every word from Classical Malay putih →