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babaylan

noun ba·bay·lan
variants: or babailan \ˌbäbīˈlän\ or babalyan \-bəlˈyän\ or babalian \-bəlēˈän\

Definition of babaylan

plural babaylanes \-äˌnās\
in central and southern Philippines
: a pagan priest, priestess, or medium

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Origin and Etymology of babaylan

of Philippine origin; akin to Tagbanuwa babalyan, from balyan mediumship, esoteric religious skill

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