ħliefa

Maltese

Root
ħ-l-f
9 terms

Etymology

From Arabic غِلاف (ḡilāf). The devoiced onset is due to a merger of the Arabic roots غ ل ف (ḡ l f) and خ ل ف (ḵ l f) in Maltese. Vassalli gives the verb ħellef, ħallef (“to peel, husk”) with both /ɣ/ and /x/, and does the same, vice versa, with ħlief (“except”). The semantic interface between them was probably the idea that the husk is that which is excluded and discarded.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈħlɪː.fa/
• Homophone: ħliefha

Noun

ħliefa f (plural ħlifiet)

1. husk