Where does “நீர்வாழை” come from?

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

நீர்வாழை (Tamil): traveler's palm (Ravenala madagascariensis)

Definitions

  1. traveler's palm (Ravenala madagascariensis)

Ancestry of “நீர்வாழை”, step by step

நீர்வாழை traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil நீர்

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

via Tamil வாழை

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TamilவாழைMusa × paradisiaca, plantain, banana, banana tree
2Proto-South Dravidian*wāẓay—
Every word from Proto-Dravidian nīr →Every word from Old Tamil 𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁰 →Every word from Tamil நீர் →