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Malay

//ˈmeɪ̯leɪ̯// adj, name, noun

Definitions

Adjective

1
Of or relating to the Malays, a people living in Brunei, on the eastern coast of Sumatra, the islands of Bangka and Belitung, the Riau archipelago and the coastal areas of Kalimantan in Indonesia, in most of Malaysia (states where they are politically dominant), in Singapore and in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. not-comparable
"There were not many passengers, and the journey was uneventful until the frontier was reached at Padang Besar, although an armed escort of Malay police accompanied the train from Alor Star."
2
Of or related to Malaysia, its people and/or culture. not-comparable
3
In, of or otherwise relating to the languages spoken by Malays. not-comparable

Adjective

1
of or relating to or characteristic of the people or language of Malaysia and the northern Malay Peninsula and parts of the western Malay Archipelago wordnet

Proper Noun

1
The Malay language, an Austronesian language spoken by most Malay people and by others where it is an official language, including under the name Indonesian. broadly
2
The Malay language, an Austronesian language spoken by most Malay people and by others where it is an official language, excluding the national standard known as Indonesian. strict-sense
"Malay is the lingua franca of several Southeast Asia countries and has been simplified by its use as a second language by non-native speakers. For example, the Malay plural is formed by repeating a word twice – buku means book and buku-buku means books."
3
A municipality of Aklan, Philippines.
"Meronyms: Argao, Balabag, Balusbus, Cabulihan, Caticlan, Cogon, Cubay Norte, Cubay Sur, Dumlog, Manoc-Manoc, Motag, Naasug, Nabaoy, Napaan, Poblacion, San Viray, Yapak — barangays of Malay"

Noun

1
A person of Malay ancestry, referring to a diverse group of Austronesian peoples inhabiting the Malay archipelago and Malay peninsula in Southeast Asia. countable
2
a western subfamily of Western Malayo-Polynesian languages wordnet
3
Type of mild curry made with yoghurt and fruit, usually pineapple or lychee. countable, uncountable
"She ordered chicken Malay with rice."
4
a member of a people inhabiting the northern Malay Peninsula and Malaysia and parts of the western Malay Archipelago wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

Etymology tree Malay Melayuder. English Malay From Malay Melayu, from Malayu, a kingdom on Sumatra's eastern coast (today's Jambi), mentioned by the Chinese Monk Yijing as 末羅瑜國 and during the Yuan (1271–1368) and Ming (1368–1644) dynasties as 木剌由, 麻里予兒, 巫來由 and 無來由. First attested in English as 1598. Exonymous derivation from Malayalam മല (mala, “mountain”) has not been demonstrated.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

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