giref

Maltese

Root
g-r-f
1 term

Etymology

Probably from Arabic جَرَفَ (jarafa, “to sweep away, scoop, shovel”). Compare gerriefa (“kind of hoe”) with Arabic جَرّافة (jarrāfa) and مِجْرَفة (mijrafa), both originally “rake, hoe, shovel”.

Alternatively it has been linked to قَرَفَ (qarafa, “to peel, decorticate”), but this is less likely; also because Maltese g- almost never goes back to Arabic ق (q). Finally one should note Old French grifer (“to scratch”), from Proto-Germanic *grīpaną, which (though clearly not the ultimate origin) might have influenced the sense and/or form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɪ.rɛf/

Verb

giref (imperfect jigref, past participle migruf, verbal noun grif)

1. to scratch
2. to steal, swindle

Conjugation

Conjugation of giref

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	grift	grift	giref		grifna	griftu	girfu
	f			girfet
imperfect	m	nigref	tigref	jigref		nigirfu	tigirfu	jigirfu
	f			tigref
imperative			igref				igirfu