ħliefa
Maltese edit
| Root |
|---|
| ħ-l-f |
| 8 terms |
Etymology edit
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 edit
Noun edit
ħliefa f (plural ħlifiet)