Temotu

T1E1M3O1T1U1

proper noun

name of various place names in the Pacific.

OriginProto-Polynesian *te →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. name of various place names in the Pacific.

Origin

  1. Proto-Polynesian*motu“reef islet”
  2. Proto-Polynesian*te“the”
  3. EnglishTemotu

Reflects the univerbation of Proto-Polynesian *te (“the”) + Proto-Polynesian *motu (“reef islet”). The place name Temotu, literally “the reef islet” arose in different Polynesian languages, making it impossible to indicate the exact source of the English term for different locations with the same name.

More words from Proto-Polynesian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Temotu. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Temotu

MLA

“Temotu.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Temotu. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Temotu,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Temotu.

Source: Temotu on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.