Reconstruction:Proto-Dravidian/kay

This Proto-Dravidian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Dravidian

Etymology

Possibly related to *key (“to do”).

Noun

*kay

hand

Descendants

Central Dravidian:
- Kolami-Naiki:
  - Kolami: की (kī)
  - Southeastern Kolami: की (kī)
- Parji-Gadaba:
  - Duruwa: कॆय् (key)
  - Kondekor: किय्यु (kiyyū), किय् (kiy)
  - Ollari: की (kī)
North Dravidian:
- Kurukh-Malto:
  - Kurukh: [script needed] (xekkhā)
  - Kumarbhag Paharia: [script needed] (qeqe)
South Dravidian:
- South Dravidian I:
  - Tamil-Kannada:
    - Kannada: ಕೈ (kai), ಕಯ್ಯಿ (kayyi), ಕಯಿ (kayi), ಕಯ್ (kay)
    - Tamil-Kodagu:
      - Kodava: ಕೈ (kai)
      - Kota-Toda:
        Kota (India): கை (kai)
        
        Toda: கொய்
      - Tamil-Malayalam:
        Malayalam: കൈ (kai)
        
        Tamil: கை (kai)
    - Tulu: ಕೈ (kai), ಕಯಿ (kayi)
- South-Central Dravidian:
  - Gondi-Kui:
    - Gondi: కై (kai)
    - Konda-Kui:
      - Konda-Dora: కియు (kiyu), కివు (kivu)
      - Kuvi-Kui:
        Kui (India): କାଜୁ (kaju), କାଗୁ (kagu)
        
        Kuvi: କେ୕ୟୁ (kēyu), କେ୕ୟୂ (kēyū), କେୟ୍ୟୁ (keyyu), କେୟୁ (keyu), କାୟ୍ୟୁ (kayyu)
  - Manda-Pengo:
    - Manda (India): କିୟ୍ (kiy)
    - Pengo: କେୟ୍ (key)
- Telugu: చెయ్యి (ceyyi), చేయి (cēyi), చెయి (ceyi), కై (kai), కయి (kayi)

References

Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju (2003) The Dravidian Languages (Cambridge Language Surveys), Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 525.
Burrow, T., Emeneau, M. B. (1984) “kai”, in A Dravidian etymological dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN.