Malagasy

/ˌmɑləˈɡɑsi/

Malagasy

English Noun

Definition

A person from Madagascar or of Malagasy descent.

Etymology

From Malagasy malagasy, connected to Mālāī-Jezīra, “island of Mālāī”. Compare English Madagascar, which by folk etymology comes from Marco Polo's misreading of Mogadishu whereas it should be Arabic جَزِيرَة المَالَائِيّ (jazīrat al-mālāʔiyy, “the Island of Mālāī”).