Right you are zmejzhd. Damalig has to do with time. It translates to Dutch as destijds, meaning literally: for that time being.

Result of search for "damalig":

that -- damalig
then -- damalig
then -- dann; folglich; damalig

I just had some fun thinking of "damalige Gmahl" and his " ehemalige Ehegnosse."A nice couple. \:D