khoums
English
Etymology
From Arabic خُمْس (ḵums, “fifth”).
Noun
khoums (plural khoums)
- A subdivision of the Mauritanian ouguiya. 5 khoums equal one ouguiya.
Usage notes
The final /s/ is an integral part of the Arabic root for 'five', so the singular should be khoums. However, the letter has sometimes been mistaken for the English or French plural ending, and a new singular khoum created by back-formation.
Alternative forms
- khoum
Anagrams
- Sokhum, hokums, khomus