muah chee

English

Etymology

From Hokkien 麻糍 (môa-chî, “glutinous rice cake made with hemp-seeds”), from 麻 (môa, “hemp”) + 糍 (chî, “glutinous rice cake”).

Pronunciation

(Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˌmwɑː ˈtʃiː/, [ˌmwaː˨˩ ˈt͡siː˨˦]

Noun

muah chee (uncountable)

1. (Singapore) A traditional snack made of glutinous rice, usually mixed with crushed peanuts and sugar.
   • 1992 May 1, Hannah Pandian, The Straits Times, page 14:

     Nobody worried that it would rain on the vegetable briyani or the muah chee man.

   • 1995 August 9, The Straits Times, page 2:

     Some parents prepared goodies such as muah chee and rojak for the fair while others helped run the stalls.

   • 2001, Jaimee Ee, The Business Times, 20 Jun page 13

     Since we were already filled to the gills, we could only meekly manage a helping of muah chee, squares of glutinous rice paste lightly dusted with ground peanuts and black sesame seeds.