1. One of a body of mounted soldiers recruited from slaves
converted to Mohammedanism, who, during several centuries,
had more or less control of the government of Egypt, until
exterminated or dispersed by Mehemet Ali in 1811.
3. A member of a former military caste, originally composed of slaves from Turkey, that held the Egyptian throne from about 1250 until 1517 and remained powerful until 1811.
Italian or Italian-American slang for someone who did something foolish or silly. Usually aimed at males, and usually not in an overly hostile manner. More a term to use with a friend or family member in a teasing way that may also be a veiled insult against their manhood.
When a father calls his son a mamaluke, the word is often followed by a swift palm-smack against the back of the head.
May have originally come from Mameluke or Mamluke - Arab mercenaries who were most powerful from about the 13th to 16th centuries. Napoleon used these cavalry warriors as well. Their uniforms; white turbans, vests, red pants and equally colorful boots, may well have spurred the foolish, silly and/or unmanly label.
A young male who is acting in a mindless and foolish manner and in so doing either creates or threatens some havoc or destruction. Early exhibitions of machismo, but in some silly fashion. My northern Italian grandmother explained it to me that the mamalukes were young Turkish warriors raised from infancy to be warriors who blindly followed orders - the cannon fodder.
Five year old Stevie knocked the pie off the counter and upset the chair while chasing his sister and roaring like a lion. What a mamaluke!
Nickname given to bales of marijuana thrown overboard or out of airplanes. Origin is reportedly from members of the US Coast Guard in the area of Southern Florida.
A sunburn or suntan focused on the left arm. It is caused by the left side of the body being the only half that gets exposed to sunlight while driving. Presumably, it would be located on the right side of the body in countries where they drive on the left side of the road.
I had a trucker's tan after driving for 10 straight hours on a sunny day.
British slang for a scientist or technical expert, esp . when the speaker is not certain of the expert’s specific field of study. Not necessarily derogatory, but typically used by persons without a technical background. In the US, the equivalent would be “egghead”, “squint”, or “geek.”
Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.