Maltese edit

Root
ħ-l-q
6 terms

Etymology edit

Probably identical to ħliqa (creature), which see. Artificially distinguished in spelling as -i- and -ie- are merged before -q-. The sense “joke” then from “something unreal, made up”, “a creation of one’s wit”. Compare in classical Arabic أَحادِيث الخَلْق (ʔaḥādīṯ al-ḵalq, fables of a storyteller).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

ħlieqa f (plural ħliqiet)

  1. joke; something silly
    Synonym: ċajta

Noun edit

ħlieqa f (plural ħlejjaq)

  1. Misspelling of ħliqa.