mã tà

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Vietnamese

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Unknown. Perhaps from Malay mata(-mata) (police) or from French matraque. Compare Min Nan 馬打马打 (má-tâ), Thai หมาต๋า (mǎa-dtǎa).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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  1. (Southern Vietnam, historical) policeman during the French colonial period