chillu

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Malayalam ചില്ല് (cillŭ).

Noun

chillu (plural chillus)

1. (grammar) A type of letter used in Malayalam which does not have an inherent vowel, used to represent a pure consonant without the use of a virama.

   Synonym: chillaksharam

   There are five chillus currently in use: ൺ (ṇ), ൻ (ṉ), ർ (ṟ), ൽ (l) and ൾ (ḷ). There are also four archaic ones: ൿ (k), ൔ (m), ൕ (y) and ൖ (ḻ).