வேம்பு

Tamil

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Dravidian *wēmpu

Tamil வேம்பு (vēmpu)

From Proto-Dravidian *wēmpu (“neem”). Cognate with Malayalam വേപ്പ് (vēppŭ), Telugu వేప (vēpa), Kannada ಬೇವು (bēvu).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʋeːmbʊ/, [ʋeːmbɯ]

Noun

வேம்பு • (vēmpu)

1. Alternative form of வேப்பமரம் (vēppamaram)

Descendants

• → Malay: bambu
  • Indonesian: bambu
  • → Portuguese: bambu
    • → Asturian: bambú
    • → Catalan: bambú
    • → Dutch: bamboe (see there for further descendants)
    • → French: bambou
      • → Moore: bambu
      • → Norman: bambou
      • → Russian: бамбу́к (bambúk) (or Dutch bamboe or English bamboo) (see there for further descendants)
    • → Italian: bambù
    • → Spanish: bambú
  • → Tok Pisin: mambu

References

• University of Madras (1924–1936) “வேம்பு”, in Tamil Lexicon, Madras [Chennai]: Diocesan Press