mulai
/ˈmuːleɪ/noun
(A title of) the ruler and other male members of the royal family of Morocco and (formerly) of the ruler of any of various kingdoms in North-west Africa and Spain.
- The title is also borne by certain sharifs and greatly venerated holy men in North-west Africa..
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in George Peele (bap. 1556, d. 1596), poet and playwright. From Arabic mūlay, colloquial form of mawlāya my lord, master from mawlā, partly via Middle French moulé (1543 in the passage translated in quot. 1600; French mouley, muley, mulay, moulay).