ħliefa

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Maltese

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Root
ħ-l-f
9 terms

Etymology

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From Arabic غِلاف (ḡilāf). The devoiced onset is due to a merger of the Arabic roots غ ل ف (ḡ l f) and خ ل ف (ḵ l f) in Maltese. Vassalli gives the verb ħellef, ħallef (to peel, husk) with both /ɣ/ and /x/, and does the same, vice versa, with ħlief (except). The semantic interface between them was probably the idea that the husk is that which is excluded and discarded.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ħliefa f (plural ħlifiet)

  1. husk