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Definition of mandalay

mandalay

/ˌmændəˈleɪ/
Man · da · lay
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mandalay Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A major city and former royal capital in central Myanmar (Burma), situated on the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy River, known as the cultural and religious center of Buddhism in the country.

2

A literary symbol of the exotic East in Western literature, famously popularized by Rudyard Kipling's poem 'Mandalay' (1890).

Example

"In Kipling's famous poem, a British soldier nostalgically longs for the road to Mandalay."

• Rhymes for mandalay

• Nearby Words

manchild
mancunian
mandala
mandalay
mandarin
mandarin rat snake
mandarinfish

Word Origin & Etymology

Named after the nearby Mandalay Hill. The name is believed to derive either from the Pali word 'mandala' (meaning 'circular plains') or 'Mandara', a legendary mountain in Hindu mythology.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mandalay. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mandalay
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