Acault
Pronunciation
Origin
From Burmese အá€á€¼á€±á€¬á€€á€º ("dry article"), from အ ("noun-forming prefix") + á€á€¼á€±á€¬á€€á€º ("dry").
Full definition of acault
Noun
acault
(plural acaults)- A male who exhibits transgender behavior. This cultural identification is associated with animistic beliefs.
Usage notes
This word is a mistranslation of the Burmese term အá€á€¼á€±á€¬á€€á€º ("dry article") which designates men who seek other men ("homosexual" or MSM). While Coleman et al. did publish a 1992 essay (which was reprinted and referenced by various other authors) referring to the Burmese "acault," they also admitted to an "inability to speak the local languages" (314) and a "lack of training in anthropology" (320). The term ăchauk is Burmese slang and does not literally indicate someone who works as a spirit medium, which is more properly known as နá€á€ºá€€á€á€±á€¬á€º. In Burma, these spirit mediums may be female or male, and may or may not be transgendered (cross-dressing), although they do wear costumes during ceremonial rituals when channeling spirits called "nats" in Burma. Homosexuality is not necessarily implied with spirit mediumship.