Where does “வாழைக்காய்” come from?

வாழைக்காய் (Tamil) comes from Tamil காய், from Proto-Dravidian kāy — fruit.

வாழைக்காய் (Tamil): green banana also used as a vegetable

Definitions

  1. green banana also used as a vegetable

Ancestry of “வாழைக்காய்”, step by step

வாழைக்காய் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil காய்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilகாய்unripe fruit
2Proto-Dravidiankāyfruit

via Tamil வாழை

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TamilவாழைMusa × paradisiaca, plantain, banana, banana tree
2Proto-South Dravidian*wāẓay—
Every word from Proto-Dravidian kāy →Every word from Tamil காய் →