Reconstruction:Proto-Austronesian/buqaya

Etymology
The presence of in  of southeastern Taiwan, reflecting *buqaya (“crocodile”), suggests that when Austronesian speakers left southern Taiwan to settle the northern Philippines, the saltwater crocodile was still found in the former area. As it gradually decreased to ultimate extinction in Taiwan, the word came to be applied to its nearest functional equivalent.
 * Proto-Austronesian: *buqaya (Blust, 2008)

Noun

 * 1) crocodile