mahleb

English

Alternative forms

• mahlab, mahaleb

Etymology

From Arabic مَحْلَب (maḥlab, “mahaleb cherry”), from حَلَبَ (ḥalaba, “to milk”).

Noun

mahleb (uncountable)

1. A Middle Eastern spice derived from the pit of the mahaleb cherry (Prunus mahaleb)
   • 2010, Richard Sax, Classic Home Desserts: A Treasury of Heirloom and Contemporary Recipes, page 287:

     What makes them [(kahke)] unique is the fragrant mahleb (also spelled mahlab or mahaleb)—a spice ground from wild cherry kernels, with a flavor reminiscent of fresh cherries—elusive, but fruity and very pleasant.

Translations

aromatic spice made from cherry stones

• Arabic: مَحْلَب m (maḥlab)
• Armenian: մահլաբ (mahlab)

  Middle Armenian: մահլապ (mahlap)

• Catalan: makhlepi m
• Finnish: veikselinkirsikka
• French: mahaleb (fr) m
• German: Mahlab m
• Greek: μαχλέπι (el) n (machlépi)
• Hebrew: מהלב
• Russian: махля́б m (maxljáb)
• Turkish: mahlep (tr)

Anagrams

• Hamble, hamble