mashrabiyya
/məʃɹəˈbi.ə/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
24
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A balcony in North Africa enclosed with carved wooden latticework.
Example Sentences
- "The upper floors of the buildings bordering the street leading to the mosque feature mashrabiyya, intricate wooden lattice window screens. […] In contrast to the modest mashrabiyya overlooking the alley, on the side facing the main street, the buildings feature inviting open balconies accessed by louvered doors."
- "And who is it who contemplates those thickly studded doors and windows covered with closely worked mashrabiyya and seriously thinks that some sort of enchantment lies beyond them?"
Etymology
From French moucharaby, later reborrowed from its source, Arabic مَشْرَبِيَّة (mašrabiyya), from مِشْرَبَة (mišraba, “small jug”), from the water jars placed in it to provide evaporative cooling.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: moucharaby, مَشْرَبِيَّة, ش ر ب
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /məʃɹəˈbi.ə/