English

Alternative forms

• tipuna

Noun

tupuna ‎(plural tupunas)

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

References

• OED 2006

Maori

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)

Alternative forms

• tipuna

Noun

tupuna ‎(irregular plural tūpuna)

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