Where does “main” come from?

main (Tok Pisin) comes from Malay main, from Proto-Malayic *main, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qayam — domesticated animal; pet; toy; plaything.

main (Tok Pisin): to play

Definitions

  1. to play

Ancestry of “main”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaymainto play
2Proto-Malayic*maintoy, plaything
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianqayamdomesticated animal; pet; toy; plaything
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qayam →