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Glossary
of Indigenous Words and Expressions
(M) for Malay; ( C) for Chinese or
any of its dialects; (T) for Tamil; (P) for Punjabi;
barang:
thing [M]
bhais: “brothers”, referring to Sikhs in
particular [P]
Blakan Mati &
blakang (belakang):
rear or back [M]
blukar (belukar): secondary jungle [M]
botha for botak
("k" forming a glottal stop and hence not pronounced): bald (M)
changkul:
hoe [M]
cheongsam:
Chinese women’s one-piece highly decorative dress of cotton, silk, poplin, or
of synthetic material, clinging close to the contours of the body and with high
slits up the sides of the thighs.
cilaka:
swear word (M)
duit:
money, loose change (M)
Emergency: Malayan Communist Party’s armed struggle for
power in the jungles of
fa ling: two lines that descend
from the outer edges of nostrils either to the lips [in Chinese physiognomy
described as the Flying Serpent entering the mouth] or further down in Chinese
physiognomy described (C)
hantu:
spirit, ghost, informer, secret
agent; also rumah hantu:literally "house of ghosts or secret agents", Masonic
Lodge [M]
kampung:
village or even urban ethnic quarter/ghetto (M)
kebun (tukang
kebun): gardener [M]
lah:
post-particle used for emphasis (M) by Malayans and Singaporeans even in
English
lalang (lallang): long, upright sword-sharp coarse grass [M]
loyar-buros:
derogatory term of reference for lawyers since they are supposed to be able to
talk the seats off anyone! (M)
makan angin sa(ha)ja: literally
"eating air only", meaning going for a stroll (M)
makan belanja: literally
“eat” expenditure [M]
Mari
sini, Inche!: Come here, Mister! [M]
membobos:
to be leaking [M]
Min Yuen: “During the Japanese occupation [February
1942 – September 1945] the guerrillas in the jungle had built up a supply
organization called the Min Yuen (Footnote: Literally means ‘Mass
Movement’.) composed of helpers, both willing and
unwilling, who supplied food, medicine, money and information. The Min Yuen was
taken over by the communists and became their supply line during the Emergency
[1948-1960]”. N.J.Ryan, AHOMAS, 1976, p. 268.
rojak:
spicy vinegared
Malay traditional salad dish [M]
rottan:
rattan (M)
sai-kere:
a low reverential bow from the hips down, a must for
Malayans when confronted by their Japanese invaders during the Occupation
Period 1942-45.
sakit:
sick (M)
saree or sari: Indian women’s main
garment of wear, composed of at least five yards of cotton, silk, or material
of a synthetic nature wrapped round and tapering down the lower part of the
body, one end of which is slung round the shoulders over a tightly-fitting
bodice of cotton or silk, often displaying an empty midrift
space.
sarong-kebaya:
Malay women’s two-piece national costume, composed of a tapering (even
transparent) long bodice, buttoned or held together by broaches right down the
middle, over a tightly-wrapped and tapering down sarong of batik design.
sial:
unlucky, ill-omened [M]
singsing:
to turn up or have the sleeves rolled up (M)
songkok:
velvet foldable oblong cap or
skullcap worn by Malay men [M]
susah:
difficult (M)
tidak apa-apa-titude:
coined portmanteau word meaning " never-mind-ness" derived from the
Malay of tidak-apa or never-mind or
doesn’t matter or even "think nothing of it" (M)
topi:
domed sun hat (M)
Tumasik-Sinkehs:
"Tumasik"
is the "ancient" name for
ULU
(hulu):
the hinterland, upriver waters; orang hulu: upcountry dwellers [M]
vadai, chambal and sambal: Tamil spicy doughnut served with
chilly-cum-coconut paste (chambal or cambal) and thin spicy dhal sauce (sambal) [T]
Wayang: show, play or opera [M]
Chinese Wayang: noisy traditional Chinese opera.
© T.Wignesan
2001-02