Where does “lā” come from?

lā (Tokelauan) comes from Proto-Polynesian *la, from Proto-Oceanic layaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian layaʀ, from Proto-Austronesian layaʀ — sail.

lā (Tokelauan): sun

Definitions

  1. sun

Ancestry of “lā”, step by step

lā traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Polynesian *la

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesian*lasail a piece of fabric attached to a boat
2Proto-Oceaniclayaʀsail
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianlayaʀsail
4Proto-Austronesianlayaʀsail

via Proto-Nuclear Polynesian la

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Nuclear Polynesianla—
Every word from Proto-Austronesian layaʀ →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian layaʀ →Every word from Proto-Oceanic layaʀ →
lā — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer