pelesit

Indonesian

Alternative forms

• palasik (dialectal)

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /pələˈsit/ [pə.ləˈsɪt̪̚]
• Rhymes: -it
• Syllabification: pe‧le‧sit

Etymology 1

Inherited from Malay pelesit. Equivalent to peng- +‎ lesit.

Noun

pêlêsit (plural pelesit-pelesit)

1. bloodsucker (one that sucks blood)
2. (mythology) a type of ghost that sucks blood of a recently bearing woman or a newborn
3. (mythology) a grasshopper, known commonly to be used as a vessel for the aforementioned ghost

Derived terms

• pelesit bangkai
• pelesit dua sejinjang
• pelesit kudung

 

Etymology 2

From peng- +‎ lesit.

Noun

pêlêsit (plural pelesit-pelesit)

1. (rare) Synonym of peluit (“whistle”)

Further reading

• “pelesit” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.