tupuna

See also: tūpuna

English

Alternative forms

• tipuna

Etymology

Maori tupuna

Noun

tupuna (plural tupunas)

1. (New Zealand) An ancestor, especially a grandparent

References

• OED 2006

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Maori

Alternative forms

• tipuna

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *tumpu from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ta- + Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *umpu (“grandparent or grandchild”), probably from Proto-Austronesian *apu (“grandparent or grandchild”) (*umpu is one of several PMP roots that are identical, except for the first vowel)

Noun

tupuna (irregular plural tūpuna)

1. A grandparent, or any ancestor more remote than one's parents.