Any of the Muslim inhabitants of Malabar (now northern Kerala), India.
adjective
Of or relating to the Moplahs.
Origin
Late 18th century; earliest use found in Joseph Ritson (1752–1803), antiquary. From Malayalam mā-piḷḷa, an honorific form of address to a son-in-law (applied to a Muslim son-in-law and hence extended to the descendants of Muslim incomers) from mā great + piḷḷa child. With forms Moplai, Moplay compare Tamil mā-piḷḷai.