dugħ

Maltese

Alternative forms

• duħ (see usage notes)

Etymology

Borrowed from Sicilian duga. The (older) Maltese /ɣ/ is probably a sporadic substitution for /ɡ/ (as in għonnella), though it could also be influenced directly by the Greek etymon δοχή (dokhḗ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /duːħ/

Noun

dugħ m (collective, singulative dugħa, plural dwiegħ, paucal dugħat or dugħiet)

1. staves (narrow strips, a part of a vessel)

Usage notes

• The sound /ħ/ is generally kept in all forms. Accordingly the official standard spelling is now duħ. However, it is difficult to assess whether this is as yet followed in practice to any meaningful extent. The għ-forms are much easier to attest at any rate.