See Also: Maltese(medicine)
Maltese(dictionary)
Maltese(encyclopedia)
Maltese Lira(finance)
Maltese doctor(health)
Maltese language(encyclopedia)
Maltese Cross(dictionary)

Maltese (iou)



Maltese noun & adjective. E17.
[from MALTA + -ESE.]
A. noun. Pl. same.
A native or inhabitant of Malta, an island in the central Mediterranean. Formerly also, a member of the Knights Hospitallers (with headquarters in Malta). E17.
The Semitic language of Malta, much influenced by Italian. E19.
A breed of white toy dog; a dog of this breed. M19.
ellipt. Maltese lace. M19.
b. adjective. Of or pertaining to Malta or its inhabitants. L18.
Maltese cat (an animal of) a bluish-grey short-haired breed of cat. Maltese cross (a) a cross with the limbs broadened outwards and often indented at the ends (as worn by Knights Hospitallers); (b) Philately a cross-shaped postmark used on British stamps from their introduction in 1840 until 1844; (c) a Geneva mechanism in a cinematographic projector. Maltese dog = sense A.3 above. Maltese lace a fine bobbin-lace associated with Malta. Maltese terrier = sense A.3 above.