samseng

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay samseng, from Hokkien 三牲 (sam-seng, sam-sng, “gangster”, literally “three domestic animals”).

Pronunciation

Noun

samseng (plural samsengs)

  1. (Malaysia, Singapore) A thug; a gangster.

Indonesian

Etymology 1

Inherited from Malay samseng, from Chinese Hokkien 三牲 (sam-seng, sam-sng, “gangster”, literally “three domestic animals”).

Pronunciation

  • (Standard Indonesian) IPA(key): /ˈsamsɛŋ/ [ˈsam.sɛŋ]
  • Rhymes: -amsɛŋ
  • Syllabification: sam‧seng

Noun

samseng (plural samseng-samseng)

  1. warrior
    Synonyms: jagoan, pendekar

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (Standard Indonesian) IPA(key): /ˈsamsəŋ/ [ˈsam.səŋ]
  • Rhymes: -amsəŋ
  • Syllabification: sam‧seng

Verb

samseng

  1. to mourn the dead
    Synonym: melayat

Further reading

Malay

Etymology

Borrowed from Hokkien 三牲 (sam-seng, sam-sng, “gangster”, literally “three domestic animals”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsamseŋ/ [ˈsam.seŋ]
  • Rhymes: -eŋ
  • Hyphenation: sam‧seng

Noun

samséng (Jawi spelling سمسيڠ, plural samseng-samseng)

  1. thug; gangster
    • 2018, Bung Moktar Radin, “Waktu Mesyuarat dan Urusan Dibebaskan Daripada Peraturan Mesyuarat”, in Hansard of the Dewan Rakyat[1], archived from the original on 16 October 2023, page 41:
      Yang Berhormat tidak layak duduk di sini, samseng. What you want? You hendak gaduh dengan saya? Anytime.
      Your Honour (Willie Mongin) doesn't deserve to sit here, gangster. What do you want? You want to fight with me? Anytime.

Descendants

  • > Indonesian: samseng (inherited)
  • English: samseng
  • Tausug: samsing

Further reading