Galla
Americannoun
noun
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a member of a tall dark-skinned people inhabiting Somalia and SE Ethiopia
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the language of this people, belonging to the Cushitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages
Sensitive Note
The Oromo (a nomadic, pastoral people of Ethiopia and Kenya) were formerly called Galla by other Ethiopians, and this name is common in historical texts through the early 20th century. However, Galla was never used by the Oromo themselves, and it is now considered a derogatory name for the people.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Galla
First recorded in 1875–80; origin uncertain; perhaps from Amharic or from Arabic ghalīẓ “wild, rough.”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Galla, who has won Olympic gold three times for cross-country skiing, took second in the competition behind YouTuber Hampus Hedström.
From Washington Times • May 29, 2023
“There is no city anymore,” Marina Galla said.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 20, 2022
Galla was in such a rush to get Samuel to treatment that he didn’t stop to disinfect with a whole-body chlorine spray.
From Time • Oct. 2, 2014
“Chris is always in the right place at the right time, and that’s not a luck thing,” Dave Galla, one of Drury’s Trumbull teammates, told me when I wrote an article about them.
From New York Times • Aug. 22, 2011
According to Hiob Ludolf and James Bruce, the Galla invaders first crossed the Abyssinian frontiers in the year 1537.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 4 "G" to "Gaskell, Elizabeth" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
