xagħat

Apparently from the Arabic root ش ع ث‎ (š-ʿ-ṯ), related to being “shaggy, dishevelled, disordered”, especially of hair. Possibly referring to the hairs found on many kinds of caterpillars. Or perhaps originally said of infested plants and then transferred to the pest itself. Compare also South Levantine Arabic شعث‎ (šiʕiṯ, “jumpy, hyperactive, rascally”), in which case it might refer to the caterpillar's restlessness.

• IPA^(key): /ʃaːt/
• IPA^(key): /ʃaˤːt/ (archaic)

xagħat m (plural xagħtijiet)

1. caterpillar

• The singular may also be uesd in a collective sense.