werżieq

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Maltese

[edit]
Root
w-r-ż-q
1 term

Etymology

[edit]

Related to the verb werżaq (to scream, shriek), which has a plausible origin in a blend of werwer + obsolete żagħaq, themselves from Arabic وَلْوَلَ (walwala, to wail) + زَعَقَ (zaʕaqa, to shout). Werżieq would then be the agent noun of this verb (“screamer”). However, it is seems equally likely that the verb is in fact a backformation from the noun, which would in turn stem from Berber; compare Kabyle warzigen, arzigen, obsolete variants (each attested once near the end of the 19th c.) of contemporary awerǧeǧǧi, awerǧeǧǧin (cidada).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

werżieq m (plural wrieżaq)

  1. cricket
    Synonyms: sarsur, grillu