Word origins

• AlmachA second-magnitude quadruple star, telescopically visible as an apparent double star composed of an orange bright giant and a fifth-magnitude blue-white triple star, marking the left foot of the chained woman in the northern constellation of Andromeda.
• al-Mada'inAn historical Sassanian Persian metropolis on the Tigris between the ancient royal centers of Ctesiphon and Seleucia-on-Tigris.
• almahAn Egyptian female singer or dancing-girl used for entertainment; sometimes a prostitute.
• AlnairA bluish-white star in the constellation Grus; Alpha (α) Gruis.
• AlnilamA large blue star in the constellation of Orion; Epsilon (ε) Orionis, one of the three stars that form Orion's Belt.
• AlnitakA triple star in the constellation of Orion; Zeta (ζ) Orionis, one of the three stars that form Orion's Belt.
• AlphardAn orange giant star in the constellation of Hydra; Alpha (α) Hydrae.
• AlpheratzA spectroscopic binary, visible as a second-magnitude blue-white star marking the head of the chained woman in the northern constellation of Andromeda (formerly seen as part of Pegasus), one of four stars in the asterism of the Great Square of Pegasus.
• al-QaedaA worldwide network of militant Sunni Islamic organizations and individuals.
• AlrakisMu Draconis A, a star in the constellation of Draco.
• AlshainBeta Aquilae, a star in the constellation Aquila
• AludraA star in the constellation of Canis Majoris.
• aranzadaA traditional Spanish unit of land area, equivalent to about 4472 m², chiefly used for vineyards and olive groves.
• ardebA Middle Eastern unit of volume used for agricultural crops.
• ashughA mystic bard, balladeer, or troubadour in the South Caucasus, Iran or Turkey who accompanied their songs with a long-necked lute (saz).
• AvempaceAn Arab polymath.
• AvenzoarAn Arab physician.
• AzelfafageThe first component of Pi¹ Cygni, a binary star in the northern constellation of Cygnus.
• Bayoud diseaseA disease of date palms, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum.
• behenBehen rubrum or red behen: said in some sources to be Salvia haematodes (now Salvia pratensis subsp. haematodes), but in other sources to be Statice limonium, which is a synonym for Limonium vulgare.
• Beni SuefA governorate in north-eastern Egypt.
• bichirAny ray-finned fish of the genus Polypterus in the family Polypteridae, having elongated bodies covered in thick, bone-like, ganoid scales.
• BilaliOf or relating to Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ, the first muezzin
• BilelA male given name from Arabic.
• budjuThe vagina.
• by AllahAn oath to emphasize sincerity or truthfulness, by God
• caphA Delta-Scuti variable giant, visible as a second-magnitude white star in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia, a part of the constellation's prominent W asterism.
• carcadeA form of celebration where a number of car owners drive slowly and sound their horns in a public place, for example after sporting events and weddings.
• carvoneA terpenoid found naturally in many essential oils, most abundant in the oils from seeds of caraway and dill.
• chermoulaA marinade used in Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian cooking, made with herbs, oil, lemons, garlic, cumin, and salt.
• DakahliaA governorate in north-eastern Egypt.
• DenebolaBeta Leonis, the second-brightest star in the constellation of Leo.
• doum palmA palm tree of species Hyphaene thebaica, with edible oval fruit, native to northern Africa and some countries of the Levant.
• dourinecovering sickness
• DschubbaA star in the constellation Scorpio.
• dullaAn inflatable sac in the throats of camels, displayed out of the mouth when in rut to assert dominance and attract females
• durraA kind of millet, a variety of sorghum; Indian millet (Sorghum bicolor).
• Eastern ArabiaA historical region of the Arabian Peninsula along the Persian Gulf, corresponding broadly to the eastern coastal areas of the peninsula in present-day Gulf states.
• EnifA type-LC irregular variable supergiant, visible as a second-magnitude orange star, or telescopically as an apparent triple star, marking the nose of the horse in the northern constellation of Pegasus.
• falakaA torture method consisting of whipping a person's bare feet.
• FalasteenPalestine (a country in Western Asia)
• Faridpur DistrictOne of the thirteen districts in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh.
• farmlaA traditional vest worn by men in Tunisia and Libya.
• FathallahA male given name from Arabic.
• foutaA piece of thin patterned cotton or linen fabric used like a bathrobe in Mediterranean countries, originally Tunisia.
• ful medamesAn originally Egyptian/Sudanese dish of cooked, mashed fava beans served with oil and spices (and sometimes other ingredients such as diced cucumbers and tomatoes), commonly eaten as a breakfast food, now also popular in neighbouring countries.
• gandouraA type of long robe or gown worn in North Africa.
• ganzaA kind of wild goose, by a flock of which a virtuoso was fabled to be carried to the lunar world.
• GaroweThe capital city of Puntland.
• Gazipur DistrictOne of the thirteen districts in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh.
• GharbiaA governorate in north-eastern Egypt.
• ghawazeeA type of female dancer popular in Egypt in the 19th century, who danced in a style similar to the belly dance.
• ghershAn old silver coin of Ethiopia.
• gizzingGrinning and laughing at someone.
• gueltaA pool of water, especially in Africa or Arabia, fed by an oasis (spring) or left behind when a wadi (arroyo, seasonal river) runs dry.
• Habiganj DistrictOne of the four districts in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh.
• hajeThe Egyptian cobra, Naja haje
• HaketiaAn endangered Jewish Romance language spoken in North-Africa.
• HalabSynonym of Aleppo.
• halfa grassA north African and south Asian grass of species Desmostachya bipinnata, with tough stems woven into rope, sandals, mats, etc., and sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions.
• hardunSynonym of stellion (a kind of lizard)
• harmalPeganum harmala, a perennial plant of the family Nitrariaceae.
• HashshashinA religious group who used hashish to create mystic visions; they later became associated with the assassination of invading Christian leaders during the Crusades; their descendants are the Khojas.
• HomamA slowly pulsating third-magnitude blue-white main-sequence star in the northern constellation of Pegasus.
• hujraA drawing room where guests are entertained in Pashtun areas of Pakistan.
• hummalA porter.
• hummumA Turkish bath.
• husbullhookumA document issued by officers of state on royal authority, serving as a grant or a decree.
• huzoorA potentate; often used as a term of respect.
• Jamalpur DistrictOne of the four districts in the Mymensingh Division of Bangladesh.
• jerboaAny of a number of species comprising the family Dipodidae, native to the deserts of Asia and northern Africa, being a small, jumping rodent with a long tufted tail, very small forefeet and very long hind legs.
• jorumA large vessel for drinking (usually alcoholic beverages).
• kabillionAn unspecified large number (of).
• kafalEither of two trees of the genus Commiphora, which yield a gum resin and a red aromatic wood.
• khalassIndicates the performance of a homicide.
• khubzismThe repression of political parties, human rights, and the press in Tunisia under President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
• kibbehA form of dumpling, from the Levant, made of spiced lamb and bulgur wheat.
• kurratEgyptian leek; considered a variety of Allium ampeloprasum (Allium ampeloprasum var. kurrat) or a species Allium kurrat
• lebbekThe tree Albizia lebbeck.
• lokmaA pastry made of fried dough soaked in sugar syrup or honey and cinnamon, typically shaped into a ring or ball. (used especially of the Turkish variant of this pastry)
• Madaripur DistrictOne of the thirteen districts in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh.
• MahjarA literary movement started by Arabic-speaking writers who had emigrated to America from Ottoman-ruled Lebanon, Syria and Palestine at the turn of the 20th century.
• MahjariOf or pertaining to the Mahjar.
• mahlebA Middle Eastern spice derived from the pit of the mahaleb cherry (Prunus mahaleb)
• makruhNot haram, but disliked or offensive, such that a person will be rewarded for avoiding it.
• malfouf saladA salad made from shredded cabbage, lemon juice, olive oil, and mint.
• mancusA gold coin used in medieval Europe.
• mandilA turban; cloth used to make a turban.
• maqamaArabic literary genre
• MarinidA member of a dynasty of Zenata Berber descent that ruled Morocco from the 13th to the 15th century.
• MarkabA subgiant, visible as a second-magnitude bluish star in the northern constellation of Pegasus, one of four stars in the asterism of the Great Square of Pegasus, one of the lunar stars observed in navigation.
• matbuchaA cooked dish of tomatoes and roasted bell peppers seasoned with garlic and chili pepper.
• MatrouhA governorate in north-western Egypt.
• Maulvibazar DistrictOne of the four districts in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh.
• mawlidA holiday celebrating the birthday of a holy man or prophet, especially Muhammad.
• MedjoolA kind of large, moist date (the fruit).
• mehariA type of fast-running dromedary camel, which can be used for racing or transport.
• MenkalinanA traditional name of the star Beta Aurigae.
• MenkarAlpha Ceti, a red giant star in the constellation of Cetus
• mimbarA pulpit in a mosque from which the leader of prayers delivers the khutbah.