għakrux

Maltese edit

Etymology edit

Origin uncertain. Perhaps related to Moroccan Arabic عقروش (ʕaqrūš, “messy, tousled”, of hair) if the whorls of the snail shell were compared to curls. Variation between q and k occurs more often in the vicinity of għ; compare għakreb, għanqbut.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /akˈruːʃ/
IPA^(key): /aˤːkˈruːʃ/ (archaic)
Audio (Gozo) (file)

Noun edit

għakrux m (plural għekierex)

(chiefly Gozo) land snail
Coordinate term: bebbux
- 2020 February 4, “Il-Bebbuxu”, in Television Malta‎^[1], archived from the original on 27 September 2022:
  Hemm ħafna iktar speċi ta’ bebbux. Fost oħrajn hemm ukoll il-bebbux tal-baħar. L-Għawdxin isejħu bebbuxu lil dak tal-baħar. Dak tal-art jgħidulu għakrux.
  There are many other species of snails. Among others there are also sea snails. The Gozitans say bebbuxu only for a sea snail. A land snail they will call għakrux.