Where does “வெளிநாடு” come from?

வெளிநாடு (Tamil) comes from Tamil வெளி, from Tamil வெள், from Proto-Dravidian *weḷ — white.

வெளிநாடு (Tamil): foreign country, abroad

Definitions

  1. foreign country, abroad

Ancestry of “வெளிநாடு”, step by step

வெளிநாடு traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil வெளி

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilவெளிoutside, exterior
2Tamilவெள்white colour
3Proto-Dravidian*weḷwhite

via Tamil நாடு

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilநாடுcountry
2Old Tamil𑀦𑀸𑀝𑀼—
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *weḷ →Every word from Tamil வெள் →Every word from Tamil வெளி →