Where does “molla” come from?
molla (English) comes from English mullah, from Turkish molla, from Arabic مُلَّا, from Classical Persian ملا, from Arabic مَوْلَى — vicar, guardian; lord; Lord.
molla (English): Archaic form of mullah
Ancestry of “molla”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | mullah | A religious scholar and teacher of sharia law;... |
| 2 | Turkish | molla | — |
| 3 | Arabic | مُلَّا | — |
| 4 | Classical Persian | ملا | — |
| 5 | Arabic | مَوْلَى | vicar, guardian; lord; Lord |