mamaw

English

Alternative forms

• mammaw, mawmaw

Etymology

Probably an affectionate alteration of mama or reduplication of mother.

Noun

mamaw (plural mamaws)

1. (UK, dialect, Scottish lowlands) One's mother.
2. (US, dialect, Southern US) One's grandmother, especially one's maternal grandmother.
3. (US, dialect, Southern US, less commonly) One's mother.

Usage notes

"Ma maw" is Lowland Scots for "my mother". "Ma" is used when addressing one's own mother, and "maw" when addressing others' mothers ("aye yer maw", Glaswegian humour implying disbelief with a hint of ridicule).

Synonyms

• meemaw, memaw

See also

• papaw

Cebuano

Alternative forms

• mawmaw

Etymology

Cognate with Tagalog mamaw (“monster; talented; intelligent”) and Hiligaynon mamaw (“Elf, goblin, sprite, fairy, ghost, etc.”).

Noun

mámaw

1. bogeyman; monster; devil; demon

   Ayawg kanáug sa sílung kay náay mámaw.

   Don’t go out because there is a bogeyman.

References

• John U. Wolff (1972) A dictionary of Cebuano Visayan‎^[1] (overall work in Cebuano and English), Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press

Hiligaynon

Etymology

Cognate with Tagalog mamaw (“monster; talented; intelligent”) and Cebuano mamaw (“monster; devil; demon”).

Noun

mamaw

1. elf; goblin; sprite; fairy; ghost; etc.

   Synonyms: mamamáhoy, tamáo, tumáo, kamâkamâ

Tagalog

Etymology

Cognate with Cebuano mamaw (“monster; devil; demon”) and Hiligaynon mamaw (“Elf, goblin, sprite, fairy, ghost, etc.”). Possibly related to Tagalog halimaw, which is from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qari-mauŋ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmamaw/, [ˈma.maʊ̯]
• Hyphenation: ma‧maw

Noun

mamaw (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋᜏ᜔)

1. (childish) ghost

   Synonyms: multo, mumu

2. (childish) monster
3. (colloquial) very talented or intelligent person

   Mamaw si Bryan, dahil marunong siya ng hindi kumulang sa limang wika.

   Bryan is a monster/brilliant, since he knows no less than five languages.

Adjective

mamaw (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋᜏ᜔)

1. ferocious; bestially cruel

   Synonyms: halimaw, mabangis