Words of Tamil and Also Malayalam Origin
Malayalam is a close sister language of modern Tamil, both of which go back to Old Tamil, the oldest attested member of the Dravidian language family. The following English words of Tamil origin were borrowed from Malayalam and/or Tamil.
- betel : from Malayalam വെറ്റില vettila; Tamil வெற்றிலை vettrilai: வெட்ட்ரு "vettru"=plant name + இலை "ilai"=leaf, (Source: OED)
- coir : probably from Malayalam കയര് kayar, Tamil 'கயிறு' "kayiru" for rope or thread or to be twisted. (Source: The American Heritage Dictionary)
- copra : from the Malayalam word കൊപ്പറ koppara, coconut kernel or Tamil கொப்பரை kopparai / கொப்பறா koppara or Telugu word kobbera(Source: OED, AHD, MWD)
- Malayalam : from Malayalam മലയാളം Malayalam, from Tamil மலை malai, mountain, அளம் tract of land, coastal land
- Kerala : from Tamil சேர hill; name of ancient Chera kingdom in hilly Kerala region, அளம் tract of land, coastal land
- mango : form மாங்காய் maangay, Malayalam borrowing from TAMIL {[Maa (big) + Kaai (unripe fruit) = maangaai}. Final -o of Engl. mango is unexplained. (Sources: OED, http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=mango&searchmode=none)
- teak: via Portuguese teca, Malay tekka, from Malayalam തേക്ക് thekku, from Tamil தேக்கு thekku
Read more about this topic: List Of English Words Of Tamil Origin
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