bugħarwien

Maltese

Etymology

From bu (“father”) +‎ għarwien (“naked”), thus “father of naked”, meaning “the one who’s always naked”. Compare semantically German Nacktschnecke, Greek γυμνοσάλιαγκας (gymnosáliagkas).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bu.warˈwɪːn/
• IPA^(key): /bu.aˤːrˈwɪːn/ (archaic)
• Rhymes: -ɪːn

Noun

bugħarwien m

1. slug

Usage notes

• No plural forms are attestable in actual use on the internet, though one dictionary gives bugħariewen. Generally, the form bugħarwien seems to be used as both singular and collective.