Sama-Bajau

noun

Sa·​ma-Ba·​jau ˈsä-mə-bə-ˈjau̇ 

-ˈbä-ˌjȯ

: a subgroup of Austronesian languages spoken by mostly maritime peoples of the southern Philippines and eastern Indonesia

Word History

Etymology

Sama, self-designation of several Sama-Bajau speaking peoples + bajau

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!