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mealie

American  
[mee-lee] / ˈmi li /

noun

South African.
  1. Sometimes mealies. corn; maize.

  2. an ear of corn.


mealie British  
/ ˈmiːlɪ /

noun

  1. an ear of maize See also mealies

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mealie

1850–55; < Afrikaans mielie < Portuguese milho maize, millet < Latin milium millet

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.

See Examples For:

She has her hands on a mealie grinder, a stone used to grind grain.

From BBC Jun. 7, 2025

Ms Malima sells Sadza, porridge made from maize "mealie meal" or millet, and a piece of chicken stew for $1 per plate to minibus drivers and other vendors.

From BBC Apr. 25, 2023

“In January, I would pay $10 U.S. to buy a pack of mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and salt and this would push me through the month,” said Muyererwa, 28.

From Washington Post Jul. 25, 2022

In Newtown there is Gramadoelas, which bills itself as "exotic African" with a menu including pumpkin pritters, mealie bread, Cape Dutch chicken pie and malva pudding.

From The Guardian May 12, 2010

She soaked a handful of mealie meal in a pot.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

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