Etymograph

English

mai tai

Mai tai comes from Tahitian maitaʻi ‘good’.

  1. Tahitianmodernmaitaʻi‘good’
  2. Englishtodaymai tai

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Tahitianmodernmaitaʻi‘good’
  2. Englishtodaymai tai

The story

The spelling with a space may be influenced by folk-etymological association with the unrelated word Thai /Tai.folk etymology The source marks this as unproven or a folk etymology. Quoted, not asserted.

Every English word from Tahitian maitaʻi

Today it means

noun A cocktail typically containing rum, curacao, and lime.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Tahitian maitaʻi / mai tai

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