maktur

Maltese

Etymology

Borrowed from Sicilian maccaturi, muccaturi, probably from Old Occitan mocador. Cognate with Catalan mocador, French mouchoir.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /makˈtuːr/

Noun

maktur m (plural mkatar)

1. handkerchief (small towel of cloth or paper)
   • Traditional (lyrics and music), “Ja ħanina”, performed by Frans Baldacchino:

     Fuq il-blata ġej u sejjer, fuq il-blata nerġa’ mmur.
     Għax hemmhekk għandi namrata, u xxejjirli bil-maktur.
     Ħanina, nitolbok ħaġa: Islifli ftit il-maktur!
     Dawk in-nies ma jkunux jafu, ’l ommok ma ngħidilhiex żgur.

     To the rock I come and go, on the rock I always walk,
     For I have my sweetheart there, and she waves to me with a handkerchief.
     Darling, one thing I ask of you: Lend me that handkerchief a while!
     Those people won’t even know, and I sure won’t tell your mum.

2. kerchief, headscarf