Malaya

[ muh-ley-uh ]

noun

1. Malay Peninsula.
2. Fed·er·a·tion of Ma·lay·a. a former federation of 11 states in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula: a British protectorate 1948–57; now forms part of Malaysia. 50,690 sq. mi. (131,287 sq. km). : Kuala Lumpur. Formerly Ma·lay States,. Malaysia ( def 1 ).

Malaya

/ məˈleɪə /

noun

1. States of the Federation of Malaya
   States of the Federation of Malaya part of Malaysia, in the S Malay Peninsula, constituting Peninsular Malaysia: consists of the former Federated Malay States, the former Unfederated Malay States, and the former Straits Settlements. Capital: Kuala Lumpur. Pop: 17 144 322 (2000). Area: 131 587 sq km (50 806 sq miles)
2. Federation of Malaya
   Federation of Malaya a federation of the nine Malay States of the Malay Peninsula and two of the Straits Settlements (Malacca and Penang): formed in 1948: became part of the British Commonwealth in 1957 and joined Malaysia in 1963

Example Sentences

Perhaps the best direct comparison is between the French in Indochina (1945-1954) and the British in Malaya (1948-1960).

From The Daily Beast

Among the plant-treasure from India, Australia and Malaya were large numbers of epiphytic orchids.

From Project Gutenberg

Some years later I was amused to receive a letter from a gentleman who was, if I remember, a schoolmaster somewhere in Malaya.

From Project Gutenberg

Some are disposed to trace it to the Sanskrit word malaya, while others prefer to regard it as a purely native word.

From Project Gutenberg

Malaya is mentioned in the Puranas as a mountain in which the Godavari and other rivers take their rise.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides signifying a range of mountains, Malaya has the secondary meaning of a garden.

From Project Gutenberg