Malaya

American  

[muh-ley-uh] / məˈleɪ ə /

noun

1. Malay Peninsula.

2. Formerly Malayan Union.  Formerly Malay States,.  Federation of Malaya. 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.

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Malaya British  

/ məˈleɪə /

noun

1. 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. 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

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Example Sentences

He moved from there to National Service in Malaya, where he took to the stage with the Combined Services Entertainments Unit, putting on shows to boost troop morale.

From BBC

His father fought in World War II and spent more than three years in a Japanese prison camp, after which he returned to Malaya and later settled in the south of England.

From The Wall Street Journal

When senior Malaya Galindez, 21, who aspires to be a physician and is majoring in health and human sciences, told her parents that she intended to minor in comedy, her father was surprised.

From Los Angeles Times

Only weeks after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the emperor’s soldiers swept south through Malaya, often riding on cheap pushbikes in an assault dubbed “the bicycle blitzkrieg.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“We are alarmed and worried about the situation that’s happening there,” National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said.

From Seattle Times