mola

¹

[moh-luh]

noun

plural

mola ,

plural

molas .

1. any of several thin, silvery fishes of the family Molidae, of tropical and temperate seas.

mola

²

[moh-luh, maw-lah]

noun

plural

molas 

1. a colorfully appliquéd piece of fabric handcrafted by the Cuna Indian women of the islands in the Gulf of San Blas and used for clothing, decoration, etc.

mola

/ ˈməʊlə /

noun

1. another name for sunfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of mola¹

1595–1605; < Latin: millstone; so called from its shape

Origin of mola²

1940–45; < Cuna: clothing, blouse, mola

Word History and Origins

Origin of mola¹

C17: from Latin, literally: millstone

Example Sentences

Boys in bright shirts play pan pipes, while girls wearing molas shake maracas.

Read more on BBC

Children, some in uniforms and others in the colorful local textiles called “molas,” chattered as they hustled through the warren of narrow dirt streets on their way to school.

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There are three species of these sunfish—Mola mola, Mola tecta and Mola alexandrini—which can be difficult to tell apart without genetic analysis.

Read more on Scientific American

Aside from their size, molas are known for their clumsy swimming style.

Read more on New York Times

But perhaps the most wonderful morning was one we spent with a Guna family who arrived with a boatload of molas, the magnificent embroidered handicrafts for which the Guna women are known.

Read more on Washington Post