gawai

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *gaway (“religious feast; festivity”).

• IPA^(key): [ˈɡawai̯]
• Hyphenation: ga‧wai

gawai

1. festive, celebration

From Malay gawai, from Classical Malay gawai, from Javanese ꦒꦮꦺ (gawé), from Old Javanese gawe, gaway, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *gaway (“religious feast; festivity”). Cognate of Balinese ᬕᬯᬾ (gaé, “work”).

• The sense “gadget” is a semantic loan from English gadget.

• IPA^(key): [ˈɡawai̯]
• Hyphenation: ga‧wai

gawai (plural gawai-gawai, first-person possessive gawaiku, second-person possessive gawaimu, third-person possessive gawainya)

1. gadget (electronics product)
2. (archaic) work, job

   Synonyms: kerja, pekerjaan

3. (obsolete) tool, equipment.

   Synonyms: alat, perkakas

• “gawai” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.