taraġ

Maltese

Etymology

From Arabic دَرَج‎ (daraj), plural of دَرَجة‎ (daraja), whence the Maltese singulative. The t- probably by dissimilation against the -ġ- (as in tiġieġ), perhaps also through influence of unrelated Sicilian tirrazza, Italian terrazza (“terrace”), with which it was associated.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈta.rat͡ʃ/

Noun

taraġ m (collective, singulative tarġa, plural turġien, paucal tarġiet)

1. stair(s), step(s)
2. (agriculture) terrace(s) (bank of earth on a hill)