Malay

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /məˈleɪ/, /ËŒmeɪˈleɪ/
• US {IPA|/ˈmeɪleɪ/|/məˈleɪ/|lang=en}
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Origin

Recorded in English since 1598; 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 (Bok-la-yu or Mok-la-yu), 麻里予兒 (Ma-li-yu-er), 巫来由 (Wu-lai-yu) and 無来由 (Wu-lai-yu). The oldest known inscriptions in the Malay language were found at Kedukan Bukit and Talang Tuo, both in the vicinity of Palembang in southern Sumatra, and at Kota Kapur on Bangka island west of Sumatra. They are respectively dated 673, 684 and 686. Exonymous derivation from Medieval Latin മല (Mala or Malai, "mountain") has not been demonstrated.

Full definition of Malay

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.
2. (usage generally frowned upon by Malays and Malaysians) Of or related to Malaysia, its people and/or culture.
3. In, of or otherwise relating to Malay, a generic name for the languages spoken by Malays.

Derived terms

• Malay apple

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.
2. Type of mild curry made with yoghurt and fruit, usually pineapple or lychee.She ordered chicken Malay with rice.

Proper noun

1. The Malay language, an Austronesian language spoken by most Malay people and in states they dominate.

Related terms

• Malaya
• Malaysia

Anagrams

• Yamal