Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.9151

c10.9151

The word has sometimes been supposed to be Malay; but it was in fact introduced into the Archipelago along with the fruit itself, from S. India. Rumphius (Herb. Amboyn. i. 95) traces its then recent introduction into the islands, and says that it is called (Malaicè) “mangka, vel vulgo Manga et Mapelaam.” This last word is only the Tamil Māpalam, i.e. ‘mān fruit’ again. The close approximation of the Malay mangka to the Portuguese form might suggest that the latter name was derived from Malacca. But we see manga already used by Varthema, who, according to Garcia, never really went beyond Malabar. [Mr. Skeat writes: “The modern standard Malay word is mangga, from which the Port. form was probably taken. The other Malay form quoted from Rumphius is in standard Malay mapēlam, with mēpēlam, hēmpēlam, ampēlam, and ‘pēlam or ‘plam as variants. The Javanese is pēlēm.”]