OUTOFPAPUA database: Lexicons of the West Papuan language area

Entry record from Heston (2015): Fataluku Central

Page number: 189

mālai

(1) foreigner; stranger(eng).

(2) head of a village; king(eng).

Note: Can apply to foreigners from anywhere, not only to those of Malay. descent

Origin: Probable loan, perhaps from Malay