Where does “வல்லவன்” come from?

வல்லவன் (Tamil) comes from Tamil அவன், from Tamil அ-, from Proto-Dravidian a- — that, that there.

வல்லவன் (Tamil): strong man

Definitions

  1. strong man

Ancestry of “வல்லவன்”, step by step

வல்லவன் traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil அவன்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilஅவன்he, that (male) person
2Tamilஅ-that
3Proto-Dravidiana-that, that there

via Tamil வல்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilவல்strong, hard, powerful, mighty
2Proto-Dravidian*wāḷstrong

via Sanskrit वल्लभ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritवल्लभbeloved, desired, dear
Every word from Proto-Dravidian a-Every word from Tamil அ-Every word from Tamil அவன்