moloi

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Tswana moloi, from loa (“to enchant”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /məˈlɔɪ/
• (General South African) IPA^(key): /mɔˈlɔɪ/

Noun

moloi (plural molois or baloi)

1. (Southern Africa) A magician, witch, wizard, or other magic-user, especially in traditional tribal society.
   • 1846, Missionary Register, page 35:

     At dead of night the baloi issue forth from their homes.

   • 1881, Emil Holub, Seven Years in South Africa, page 386:

     He dared not use violent means, and the only course that suggested itself was to call in the aid of the molois; but neither did the operation of magic prove effectual, nor did he succeed in getting some poison, […]

   • 1934, Edward Evans-Pritchard, Essays presented to CG Seligman, page 295:

     Sometimes the moloi conceals a bundle of rags containing "doctored" roots and other substances in the eaves of his victim's hut […]

   • 1906, James Frazer, The Golden Bough, Book III, p. 104:

     The graves of Basuto chiefs are kept secret lest certain more or less imaginary witches and wizards called Baloi, who haunt tombs, should get possession of the bones and work magic with them.

   • 1994, Bret Galloway, Balck Papyrus, Unlimited Publishing, published 2003, page 66:

     And time and again they have told me one thing – this woman is not a moloi.

Anagrams

• mooli

Nias

Etymology

From mo- + root -loi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *laʀiw, from Proto-Austronesian *laʀiw.

Verb

moloi

1. to run away

References

• Sundermann, Heinrich. 1905. Niassisch-deutsches Wörterbuch. Moers: Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, p. 132.

Tswana

Etymology

From loa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mʊˈlo.i/

Noun

moloi class 1 (plural baloi)

1. witch, wizard

Descendants

• → English: moloi