Proto-South Dravidian : *modd-
Meaning : idiot, stupid
Tamil : mottu
Tamil meaning : dullard, idiot; lazy person or animal
Tamil derivates : mottai ignorant woman
Kannada : moddu, maddu
Kannada meaning : stupidity, bluntness (as of knife)
Kannada derivates : madaḍu dullness, stupidity
Tulu : madaḍụ
Tulu meaning : slothful, indolent
Tulu derivates : madaḍu lazy; a lazy woman; madaḍe blockhead, sluggard
Notes : The vowel -a- is due to contamination with *maḍ- 'ignorance, folly, etc.' (or due to analogy: *modaḍ- > madaḍ-, *mod- > mad-).
Number in DED : 5118
