Proto-South Dravidian : *mol-ai
Meaning : jasmine
Tamil : mullai
Tamil meaning : Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac; some other varieties of jasmine
Malayalam : mulla
Malayalam meaning : Jasminum sambac, etc.
Kannada : molle
Kannada meaning : Jasminum multiflorum or pubescens
Notes : Irregular -u- in Tamil/Mal. (the Kannada variant is primary, as it is confirmed by Telugu). This might be due to contamination with *muḷ- 'thorn' (?) or *muḷ- 'sprout, shoot, germ' (?).
Number in DED : 4987
