Where does “motu” come from?

motu (Tonga (Malawi)) comes from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- — to burn (of a fire).

motu (Tonga (Malawi)): fire

Definitions

  1. fire

Ancestry of “motu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Bantu*mʊ̀jótòfire
2Proto-Bantu*-jótato warm oneself
3Proto-Atlantic-Congo*-jot-to burn (of a fire)
Every word from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- →Every word from Proto-Bantu *-jóta →Every word from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò →
motu — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer