Where does “thuốc cao” come from?

thuốc cao (Vietnamese) comes from Vietnamese thuốc, from Chinese 毒, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan duk ~ tuk — poison; poisonous, toxic; to poison.

thuốc cao (Vietnamese): ointment, unguent

Definitions

  1. ointment, unguent

Ancestry of “thuốc cao”, step by step

thuốc cao traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Vietnamese thuốc

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnamesethuốcmedicine; medicament; drug; Short for thuốc lá;...
2Chinese毒—
3Proto-Sino-Tibetanduk ~ tukpoison; poisonous, toxic; to poison

via Vietnamese cáo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnamesecáoa fox; royal edict-like announcement
2Chinese告—
3Middle Chinese校—
Every word from Proto-Sino-Tibetan duk ~ tuk →Every word from Chinese 毒 →Every word from Vietnamese thuốc →