għakrux

Maltese

Etymology

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

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

Noun

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.