a. and sb. Forms: 7 Cingala, Singale, 8 Cinglass. [f. Skr. Siṅhalam Ceylon, siṅhalās people of Ceylon; in Tamil çiṅgaḷa.] adj. Of Ceylon. sb. A native of Ceylon; the language of Ceylon.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., I. V. xvii. 460. The Singales or Native Inhabitants. Ibid. The Cingalas are very cunning Artificers in all mettalls.
1704. Collect. Voy. (Churchill), II. 698/2. Two Cingaleses … hid themselves.
1868. G. B. Malleson, French in India, i. 27. It had on board … some native Cingalese in Dutch pay.
