moloi

moloi

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Tswana moloi, from loa (“to bewitch”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /məˈlɔɪ/
• (General South African) IPA^(key): /mɔˈlɔɪ/

Noun

moloi (plural baloi)

1. (Southern Africa) A magician, witch, wizard, or other magic-user, especially in traditional tribal society.
   • 1846, Missionary Register, p. 35:

     At dead of night the baloi issue forth from their homes.

   • 1934, Essays presented to CG Seligman, Edward Evans-Pritchard, p. 295:

     Sometimes the moloi conceals a bundle of rags containing "doctored" roots and other substances in the eaves of his victim's hut [...].

   • 1906, James Frazer, The Golden Bough, Book III, p. 104:

     The graves of Basuto chiefs are kept secret lest certain more or less imaginary witches and wizards called Baloi, who haunt tombs, should get possession of the bones and work magic with them.

   • 1994, Bret Galloway, Balck Papyrus, Unlimited Publishing 2003, p. 66:

     And time and again they have told me one thing – this woman is not a moloi.

Anagrams

• mooli

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Tswana

Etymology

From loa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mʊˈlo.i/

Noun

moloi class 1 (plural baloi)

1. witch, wizard