Where does “moli kai” come from?
moli kai (Tongan) comes from Tongan kai, from Proto-Polynesian kai, from Proto-Oceanic kani, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian kaən, from Proto-Austronesian kaən — to eat.
moli kai (Tongan): sweet orange, Citrus sinensis
Definitions
- sweet orange, Citrus sinensis
Ancestry of “moli kai”, step by step
moli kai traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Tongan kai
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tongan | kai | food; To eat |
| 2 | Proto-Polynesian | kai | food |
| 3 | Proto-Oceanic | kani | to eat consume |
| 4 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | kaən | to eat |
| 5 | Proto-Austronesian | kaən | to eat |
via Tongan moli
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tongan | moli | any of a number of citrus fruits, not including lemons and limes |