Amoke

/əˈmoʊk/ adverb

Definition

In a state of violent frenzy or uncontrollable rage; running wild (variant spelling of amok).

Etymology

From Malay amuck, originally describing a particular type of violent frenzy in Malaysian culture. Anglicized into English spelling amoke/amok in 17th-century accounts of Southeast Asian warfare.

Kelly Says

The word 'amok' comes from historical accounts of Malayan warriors, and it's fascinating how English borrowed this word to describe a specific cultural phenomenon—showing how languages capture moments when cultures collide and influence each other.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.