acang-acang

Indonesian

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *acaŋ (“dove, pigeon”). Reduplication of acang (“pigeon”).

The sense of "messenger" is probably from the use of domestic pigeons to send messages.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˌat͡ʃaŋ ˈat͡ʃaŋ/ [ˌa.t͡ʃaŋ ˈa.t͡ʃaŋ]
• Rhymes: -at͡ʃaŋ
• Syllabification: a‧cang-a‧cang

Noun

acang-acang (plural acang-acang)

1. a messenger, errand-boy

   Synonyms: bansur, pesuruh

Malay

Etymology

Reduplication of acang (“pigeon”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *acaŋ (“dove, pigeon”).

The sense of "messenger" is probably from the use of domestic pigeons to send messages.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [a.t͡ʃaŋ ʔa.t͡ʃaŋ]

Noun

acang-acang (Jawi spelling اچڠ٢, uncountable)

1. A messenger.

   Synonym: pesuruh

Compounds

• acang-acang alat
• acang-acang (dalam) negeri

Further reading

• "acang-acang" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017
  (also see "acang-acang" at PRPM first version)