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.
2. Arabic slave
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!