silġ

From Arabic ثَلْج‎ (ṯalj), from Proto-Semitic *ṯalg-. Maltese s- (instead of expected t-) may be due to irregular assimilation of [θ] to the following alveolar [l]. Otherwise it could be speculated that the form goes back to *šalj with š- from a Semitic substrate (as perhaps in xemx). The subsequent dissimilation š- → s- under the influence of following -j- would be less surprising (compare e.g. siġra).

• IPA^(key): /sɪlt͡ʃ/

silġ m (collective, singulative silġa, paucal silġiet)

1. ice; hail
   • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb ta' Ġob 6:16:

     Li jkunu mqallgħin bil-ħalla tas-silġ, xħin togħdos fihom il-borra.

     King James Version translation: Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid.

2. snow

   Synonym: borra