għażżiela

Maltese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /azˈzɪː.la/
  • IPA^(key): /aˤːzˈzɪː.la/ (archaic)
  • IPA^(key): /ɣazˈzɪː.la/ (archaic, rural)

Etymology 1

From Arabic غَزَالَة (ḡazāla, “female gazelle”). The survival of this word in Malta is perhaps due its frequent figurative and poetic use among the Arabs. The gemination may be due to influence by Italian gazzella, though it is also explainable through analogy.

Noun

għażżiela f (plural għożlien or għażżiliet or għażżieli or għażiel or għażiliet or għażlien or għażieżel)

1. gazelle
2. cicada

Alternative forms

• għażiela

Etymology 2

Root
għ-ż-l (woolwork)
5 terms

See the lemma.

Noun

għażżiela

1. female equivalent of għażżiel (“spinner, one who spins”)
2. plural of għażżiel