injam

Maltese

Alternative forms

  • njam (sometimes after a vowel, but i is mostly considered part of the stem)

Etymology

Borrowed from Sicilian lignami (wood), from Early Medieval Latin lignāmen, derived from Latin lignum. The initial l- was reinterpreted as the Sicilian and/or Maltese definite article. Compare Italian legname.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈjaːm/
  • Rhymes: -aːm

Noun

injam m

  1. wood
    • 1970, Anton Buttigieg, “Id-Dar tan-Ninfi”, in Fl-Arena:
      Għamara bl-injam ħadmu,
      bil-ward żewqu l-ħitan;
      buqar tahom il-ġilju,
      u kikkri t-tulipan.
      They built the furniture from wood,
      and decked the walls with roses.
      For jugs they used lilies,
      for cups, the tulips.

See also