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xellug. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
xellug, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
xellug in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
xellug you have here. The definition of the word
xellug will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
xellug, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Maltese
Etymology
Uncertain. Seemingly from Maghrebi Arabic شَلُوق (šalūq, “southeastern wind, scirocco”), whence also—perhaps through Romance influence—Maltese xlokk (“scirocco”). The Arabic word itself is said to be of Berber origin and this may explain the final -g (as there does not appear to be any case of Arabic q becoming g in Maltese). The sense “left” then from “east” as the left side when facing the sun at noon. Here the question poses itself whether there is any relation between شَلُوق (šalūq) and native Arabic شَرْق (šarq, “east”). Furthermore it must be noted that Arabic has شِمال (šimāl, “left”) from شَمال (šamāl, “north”), thus based on the position at sunrise rather than noon.
Pronunciation
Noun
xellug m
- left side, the left
- Antonym: lemin
Derived terms