English word origin

Etymology of malu

From Samoan malu.

2 source sectionsBrief source recordWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

noun

A culturally significant tattoo on a Samoan woman's upper leg.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Samoan malu.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Borrowed-form mentionmalusm

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "bor",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "sm",
        "3": "malu"
      },
      "expansion": "Samoan malu"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "malu",
      "malu#Samoan"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A culturally significant tattoo on a Samoan woman's upper leg."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "5a900573c41dce9d5c9f466037f2c6108b5cfa5bcced8e2b0893704e8e380b20",
      "rawRecordSha256": "d60ce54d807478ac34281aa75b93636ee096915061bda8376b2ca4f63d71143b",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 492817
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

adj

shy; embarrassed

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Borrowed from Malay malu.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "ms:malu",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Malay\", \"term\" : \"malu\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"ms\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"malu\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"malu\">\nBorrowed from Malay malu."
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "ms:malu",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Borrowed from Malay malu."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "malu",
      "malu#Malay"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "adj",
      "glosses": [
        "shy; embarrassed"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Singlish"
      ],
      "recordId": "2da4d4b0850338be0968aecca0ceb1e5dbd38bcdfe6d103c7bae4e151f284ef6",
      "rawRecordSha256": "80f6ab625682a4f599837930d0c9a34f6ba6d8812a3ef3dd9aa692cd4288de50",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 492818
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for malu →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-bWFsdQ