English
aitu
Aitu comes from Proto-Polynesian *qaitu ‘ghost’, and goes back to Proto-Austronesian *qaNiCu.
- Proto-Austronesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*qaNiCureconstructed
- Proto-Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*qanitu‘ghost’reconstructed
- Proto-Oceanicprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*qaitu‘ghost’reconstructed
- Englishtodayaitu
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Austronesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*qaNiCureconstructed
- Proto-Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*qanitu‘ghost’reconstructed
- Proto-Oceanicprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*qaitu‘ghost’reconstructed
- Englishtodayaitu
Every English word from Proto-Austronesian *qaNiCu
Today it means
noun A ghost or spirit, often malevolent, in Polynesian mythology.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Austronesian *qaNiCu / aitu