ġewnaħ

Maltese

Etymology

Back-formation from the plural ġwienaħ, itself from Arabic جَوَانِح (jawāniḥ), as if from a four-radical *جَوْنَح (*jawnaḥ), but actually plural of جَانِح (jāniḥ, “side, wing”). Compare also جَنَاح (janāḥ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛw.naħ/

• Audio (Gozo):

  (file)

Noun

ġewnaħ m (dual ġwinħajn or ġwenħajn, plural ġwienaħ or ġnieħ, diminutive ġwejnaħ)

1. (anatomy) wing
   • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 19:4:

     Rajtu intom x’għamilt lill-Eġizzjani, u kif lilkom ġarrejtkom fuq il-ġwienaħ tal-ajkli u ressaqtkom lejja.

     New International Version translation: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

   • 2018, Antoinette Borg, Amina, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:

     Pereżempju qatt innutajtu s-simetrija bilaterali perfetta tal-ġwienaħ ta’ farfett, tad-denb ta’ pagun, jew għall-inqas tal-wiċċ uman?

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. wing (part of an aircraft)
3. flank, side
4. (architecture) spandrel
5. (figuratively) protection