ġewnaħ

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Maltese

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Etymology

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Back-formation from the plural ġwienaħ, itself from Arabic جَوَانِح (jawāniḥ), as if from a four-radical *جَوْنَح (*jawnaḥ), but actually plural of جَانِح (jāniḥ, side, wing). Compare also جَنَاح (janāḥ).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛw.naħ/
  • Audio (Gozo):(file)

Noun

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ġewnaħ m (dual ġwinħajn or ġwenħajn, plural ġwienaħ or ġnieħ, diminutive ġwejnaħ)

  1. (anatomy) wing
    • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 19:4:
      Rajtu intom x’għamilt lill-Eġizzjani, u kif lilkom ġarrejtkom fuq il-ġwienaħ tal-ajkli u ressaqtkom lejja.
      New International Version translation: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
    • 2018, Antoinette Borg, Amina, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:
      Pereżempju qatt innutajtu s-simetrija bilaterali perfetta tal-ġwienaħ ta’ farfett, tad-denb ta’ pagun, jew għall-inqas tal-wiċċ uman?
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  2. wing (part of an aircraft)
  3. flank, side
  4. (architecture) spandrel
  5. (figuratively) protection