geddum

Uncertain, but probably from Arabic. There are several comparable roots, two or more of which may also have been merged.

• Based on the meanings “chin, snout” compare: 1.) Arabic ⁧قَيْدُوم⁩ (qaydūm, “bow of a ship”), ⁧قُدّام⁩ (quddām, “front part”), from which latter Maltese quddiem; 2.) Berber (Tarifit) udem (“face”).
• Based on the meaning “lower jaw” compare: 1.) Maltese gidem (“to bite”), from Arabic ⁧كَدَمَ⁩ (kadama); 2.) Arabic ⁧قَدُّوم⁩ (qaddūm, “adze”); 3.) Arabic ⁧جُذُوم⁩ (juḏūm), plural of ⁧جِذْم⁩ (jiḏm, “root, foundation, lower part”, and in one old source “gum, place where a tooth grows”).

Phonetically, it should be noted that Maltese /ɡ/ is rare and tends to derive either from Berber or irregularly from Arabic ⁧ك⁩ (k) or ⁧ج⁩ (j), almost never from ⁧ق⁩ (q).

• IPA^(key): /ɡɛdˈduːm/

geddum m (plural gdiedem)

1. chin
2. lower jaw
3. snout of a pig or similar animal