amalaita, plural noun
- Forms:
- Show more Also amalaaita, amalaaitas, amalaitas, amalayita, amaleita, amalita, amelitas, lieta, malaita, and with initial capital.
- Origin:
- IsiZulu, Southern Sotho, EnglishShow more IsiZulu amalayitha or Southern Sotho malaeta thugs, robbers; etymology dubious: probably formed on isiZulu ama- (or ma- prefix3) + -layitha to pay up, adaptation of English light, light up, initially used among Zulu-speakers as translation of isiZulu khanyisa to pay up, literally ‘light up’ (with one’s shining money); or perhaps adaptation of English moonlighter (see quotation 1934); or Allrighter (see quotation 1980). For explanation of forms with English plural suffix -s, see ama- and ma- prefix3.
historical
Urban gangs once notorious for committing a variety of crimes, usually violent; members of these gangs. Frequently attributive. Cf. skebenga, tsotsi sense 1.
1903 Ilanga 8 May 3No Christened natives have taken part in a faction fight, or defied the Government, nor has a murder of an European been committed by one of them; nor do they obstruct Europeans in the locations, nor form lieta gangs in towns.
1987 S. Roberts Jacks in Corners 62The Amalaaitas, with their trousers caught at the knee with steel bands and their heavy sticks and their handkerchiefs tied at the corners and worn on their heads could kill you with a single blow.
Urban gangs once notorious for committing a variety of crimes, usually violent; members of these gangs. Frequently attributive.
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