Equivalent to orí (“head, surface”) + kún (“to kneel”), literally “The surface that which kneels”. Possibly related with Igala ékwù and Igala òkwúkwù, compare with Itsekiri oríkẹ́sẹ̀, Ifè ìrúkú, and Àhàn égú. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *o-ríkṹ, *e-kíkṹ, from Proto-Edekiri *o-ríkṹ, *e-kíkṹ, ultimately from the root Proto-Yoruba *-kṹ (“to kneel”). See Doublet of kúnlẹ̀ (to kneel).