Where does “மாநிலம்” come from?

மாநிலம் (Tamil) comes from Tamil மா, from Old Tamil 𑀫𑀸, from Sanskrit महा, from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́, from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s — big, great.

மாநிலம் (Tamil): state, province

Definitions

  1. state, province

Ancestry of “மாநிலம்”, step by step

மாநிலம் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil மா

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilமாanimal, beast; horse; elephant
2Old Tamil𑀫𑀸big
3Sanskritमहाcombining form of महत्; buffalo; great, large,...
4Proto-Indo-Aryanmaźʰā́—
5Proto-Indo-Iranianmaȷ́ʰā́big, great
6Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂sbig, great

via Tamil நிலம்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilநிலம்earth, world
2Malaynilamsapphire
3Tamilநீலம்blue
4Sanskritनीलof a dark color
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanneyH-to lead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́ →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́ →