Where does “முள்வாளை” come from?

முள்வாளை (Tamil) comes from Tamil முள், from Proto-Dravidian *muḷ — thorn.

முள்வாளை (Tamil): Dorab wolf-herring (Chirocentrus dorab)

Definitions

  1. Dorab wolf-herring (Chirocentrus dorab)

Ancestry of “முள்வாளை”, step by step

முள்வாளை traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil முள்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilமுள்thorn, brier, prickle, bristle, spine
2Proto-Dravidian*muḷthorn

via Tamil வாளை

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilவாளைcutlassfish, (Trichiurus lepturus)
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *muḷEvery word from Tamil முள்