ayah
[ ah-yuh ]
/ ˈɑ yə /
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noun
(in India) a native maid or nurse.
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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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Origin of ayah
1775–85; <Hindi āyā<Portuguese aia maidservant <Latin avia grandmother, equivalent to av(us) grandfather + -ia feminine suffix
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for ayah
ayah
/ (ˈaɪə) /
noun
(in the East, Africa, and other parts of the former British Empire) a maidservant, nursemaid, or governess, esp one of Indian or Malay originCompare amah
Word Origin for ayah
C18: from Hindi āyā, from Portuguese aia, from Latin avia grandmother
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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