The compound modified starch was prepared from the areca taro native starch which was modified by ball-milling combined with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA). The physicochemical properties of compound modified starch were studied and compared with the native starch, esterified starch and ball-milled starch. The results indicated that the solubility, swelling power and transparency of ball-milled starch were significantly improved (P＜0.05), especially the cold-water solubility, but the anticoagulation, freeze-thaw stability and apparent viscosity were reduced. The solubility, swelling power, transparency, anticoagulation, freeze-thaw stability and apparent viscosity of esterified starch and compound modified starch were significantly improved. It can be seen that the quality of native starch and ball-milled starch after esterification with OSA is significantly improved. Above all, the apparent viscosity of compound modified starch was significantly increased, which showed its better thickening properties.