From ìghá (“midrib of an oilpalm frond”) + ighè (“a root relating to the human rib”). The first part of the word has many Yoruboid cognates, and usually refers to the side or "rib" of a palm frond. It is not clear if the origin comes from the human rib or the palm frond rib. See Ijebu Yoruba ùwá (“human rib”), Standard Yoruba ọ̀wá (“rib of palm frond”), Èkìtì Yoruba ụ̀á (“palm frond midrib”). The second form is also a term referring to the rib, see Àkúrẹ́ Yoruba ụgbáè, ịgbáè, ịgbáyè, Èkìtì Yoruba uè, uyè, iyè. For other dialects that have the "gba" form, see Ìkálẹ̀, Ọ̀wọ̀ Yoruba ugbáyà. First part of the word can be derived from Proto-Edekiri *ʊ̀-ɣá, *ɪ̀-ɣá, also see Proto-Yoruba *ʊ̀-ɣá, *ɪ̀-ɣá.