khoums

English

Etymology

From Arabic خُمْس (ḵums, “fifth”).

Noun

khoums (plural khoums)

1. A subdivision of the Mauritanian ouguiya. 5 khoums equal one ouguiya.

Usage notes

The final /s/ is an integral part of the Arabic root for 'five', so the singular should be khoums. However, the letter has sometimes been mistaken for the English or French plural ending, and a new singular khoum created by back-formation.

Alternative forms

• khoum

Anagrams

• Sokhum, hokums, khomus