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Where does the word "tapa" come from? It comes from Polynesian tapa, and was adopted directly into English (1700s-1800s).
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Where does the word "tapa" come from? It comes from Polynesian tapa, and was adopted directly into English (1700s-1800s).
Tapa’s story begins in Polynesian: tapa meant “bark cloth.” A cloth made from beaten tree bark. It reached English by 1700s-1800s as tapa. Beaten bark cloth used across Polynesia; Captain Cook's voyages collected many examples. Today, tapa means a traditional Pacific Islander cloth made from beaten tree bark.
- Stage 1 · Polynesian · ancient tapa "bark cloth", a cloth made from beaten tree bark.
- Stage 2 · English · 1700s-1800s tapa "traditional bark cloth", beaten bark cloth used across Polynesia; Captain Cook's voyages collected many examples.