English
kiwi
Kiwi comes from Māori kiwi ‘kiwi (bird)’, and goes back to Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kiuk.
- Proto-Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kiukreconstructed
- Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Oceanicprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kiureconstructed
- Māorimodernkiwi‘kiwi (bird)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1953same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kiukreconstructed
- Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Oceanicprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kiureconstructed
- Māorimodernkiwi‘kiwi (bird)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1953same form
Earliest quotation: 1953, Air Force: Official Service Journal of t: “And as its role grew in importance, ground commanders,…”
Every English word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kiuk
Another origin of kiwi
- Proto-Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kiuk‘cheep, peep’reconstructed
- Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Oceanicprehistoric (reconstructed)same formreconstructed
- Proto-Polynesianprehistoric (reconstructed)*kiureconstructed
- Māorimodernkiwi‘kiwi (bird)’
- Englishtodaysame form
Genericized trademark from the brand of shoe polish originating in Australia, from Māori kiwi.
Today it means
noun A flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kiuk / kiwi