subs. phr. (common).—See quot. [Probably a corruption of Penang liyar, the wild areca.]
1865. Chambers’ Encyclopædia, VII. 371. PENANG LAWYERS, the commercial name for the stems of a species of palm imported from Penang for walking sticks. They are small and hard, and have a portion of the root-stock attached, which is left to form the handle.
