‘Mamaguy’ in Oxford

FREDDIE KISSOON Saturday, March 9 2013 It was a bit of a surprise when I found out that “Mamaguy” had manoeuvred its way after appearing in Trinidadian and West Indian dictionaries, right into the Concise Oxford Dictionary — tenth edition. “Mamaguy” is derived from two Spanish words “mamar gallo” meaning “to make a monkey of.” After giving the pronunciation with phonetic symbols, the lexicographers’ definition is, “Verb. West Indian. Try to deceive (someone) especially with flattery or untruths.” From this we have coined local words such as “mamaguying” and “mamaguism” as in, “War yo mamaguying mih for?” And, “Ah doe fall for dat kine ah mamaguism.” http://www.newsday.co.tt/commentary/0,174591.html mamaguy /ˈmɑːməˌɡaɪ/ verb 1. (transitive) to deceive or tease, either in jest or by deceitful flattery noun 2. an instance of such deception or flattery Word Origin from Spanish mamar el gallo, literally: to feed the cock 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 Cite This Source mamaguy. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved September 5, 2017 from Dictionary.com website http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mamaguy