merħla

Derived from Arabic رَحَلَ‎ (raḥala, “to saddle, to journey”), which in early Maltese was used of herdsmen and their animals; compare raħħal (“herdsman, stockbreeder”), from Arabic رَحّال‎ (raḥḥāl, “traveller”). The underlying form is probably مَرْحَلة‎ (marḥala) or *مِرْحَلة (*mirḥala), though the formation would seem to be independent from the Arabic word meaning “day’s journey, stretch”. It could also be مُرْحَلة‎ (murḥala) or مُرْحِلة‎ (murḥila); compare أَرْحَلَ‎ (ʾarḥala, “to have many camels; to train a camel; to become fat [of a camel]”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛr.ħla/

merħla f (plural merħliet)

1. herd; flock

• raħal
• raħħal