Ama has 9 different meanings across 3 categories:
Alternative spelling of amah
"The nomads wove their tents using ama, a durable fabric crafted from the fine hair of camels and goats."
A traditional Japanese pearl diver, typically female.
The float on the outrigger of a proa or trimaran.
A toxic byproduct of improper or incomplete digestion.
Fabric made from the hair of a camel or goat.
In plain English: An ama is a woman who works as a professional diver to collect seafood from the ocean floor in South Africa.
"The traditional wedding dress was woven from luxurious, soft ama."
Usage: Ama refers specifically to fabric woven from the hair of camels or goats, not other animal fibers like wool or silk. Use this term only when describing traditional textiles made exclusively from these specific hairs.
Initialism of American Medical Association.
"The speaker switched to ama, a local Papuan language, to communicate with their grandmother."
A language of Papua New Guinea.
Initialism of ask me anything.
"The forum thread started as an AMA where users could ask questions directly to the celebrity."
Initialism of against medical advice.
"The patient signed an AMA form before leaving the emergency room to go home without treatment."
The English word ama comes from the Portuguese term for a female nurse, which itself likely evolved from the Medieval Latin word amma, meaning wet nurse. This root may have originated as an imitation of infant sounds or borrowed from Ancient Greek.