mahala1
/məˈheɪlə/(also mahaly, majella, mohale) US
noun
A North American Indian woman or wife.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in California Courier (San Francisco). Probably from Valley Yokuts, e.g. Chawchila dial. mokheːo woman, and similar words in other dialects.
mahala2
/məˈhɑːlə/(also mahhala) South African informal
adverb
For nothing, gratis.
adjective
Free; acquired without payment or effort. Chiefly in for mahala: for free.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Bantu World. From any of several cognate forms in the Nguni and Sotho languages.