mendikai

Malay

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil கொம்மட்டிக்காய் (kommaṭṭikkāy), related to கொம்மட்டி (kommaṭṭi).

Noun

mendikai (Jawi spelling منديکاي, plural mendikai-mendikai, informal 1st possessive mendikaiku, 2nd possessive mendikaimu, 3rd possessive mendikainya)

1. watermelon (fruit)

Synonyms

• tembikai (Malay Peninsular, Sumatra)
• semangka (Johore and Singapore)

Descendants

• Malay: tembikai
  • Indonesian: têmbikai
  (by metathesis)

Further reading

• “mendikai” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.