waddab

Maltese

Root
w-d-b

Alternative forms

waddaf (archaic)

Etymology

From the Arabic root و ض ف‎ (w-ḍ-f), variant of و ف ض‎ (w-f-ḍ), which has to do with “accelerating”. The original sense is “shoot with a slingshot”, as still in the noun wadab (“slingshot”). This sense is attested for Iberian Arabic and still found in Maghrebi dialects. For the development f → b compare beża', qabeż.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈwad.dap/

Verb

waddab (imperfect jwaddab, past participle mwaddab)

to throw
Synonyms: tefa', xeħet