Where does “keff” come from?

keff (Maltese) comes from Arabic كف, from Persian کف, from Arabic كَفّ, from Proto-Semitic kapp- — palm, hand.

keff (Maltese): palm of the hand; or the inner part of the hand;...

Definitions

  1. palm of the hand; or the inner part of the hand;...

Ancestry of “keff”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicكفto hem, to skirt; to curb, to contain, to...
2Persianکفfoam; froth; palm
3Arabicكَفّpalm; hand, palm; scalepan
4Proto-Semitickapp-palm, hand
Every word from Proto-Semitic kapp-Every word from Arabic كَفّEvery word from Persian کف