From Malay merdeka, from Classical Malay مرديكا (mĕrdeka), from Sanskrit महर्द्धिक (maharddhika, “prosperous”). Cognate of Javanese ꦩꦂꦢꦶꦏ (mardika), Buginese ᨆᨑᨙᨉᨀ (maradeka), Tagalog maharlika.
meredika