geddum

Maltese

Etymology

Uncertain, but probably from Arabic. There are several comparable roots, two or more of which may also have been merged.

• Based on the meanings “chin, snout” compare: 1.) Arabic قَيْدُوم (qaydūm, “bow of a ship”), قُدّام (quddām, “front part”), from which latter Maltese quddiem; 2.) Berber (Tarifit) udem (“face”).
• Based on the meaning “lower jaw” compare: 1.) Maltese gidem (“to bite”), from Arabic كَدَمَ (kadama); 2.) Arabic قَدُّوم (qaddūm, “adze”); 3.) Arabic جُذُوم (juḏūm), plural of جِذْم (jiḏm, “root, foundation, lower part”, and in one old source “gum, place where a tooth grows”).

Phonetically, it should be noted that Maltese /ɡ/ is rare and tends to derive either from Berber or irregularly from Arabic ك (k) or ج (j), almost never from ق (q).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɛdˈduːm/

Noun

geddum m (plural gdiedem)

1. chin
2. lower jaw
3. snout of a pig or similar animal

Derived terms

• bil-geddum

 

Related terms

• (perhaps) gidem
• (perhaps) quddiem