That’s actually quite correct pronounciation, since in English it would be “make and break”, a descriptive name for the function of the distributor points.

Nowadays, it’s an obsolete system since practically all modern cars have electronic ignition, but in a nutshell it refers to the operation of a set of contacts which open and close in time with the firing of the engine. Each time the contacts open, the current in the primary circuit of the step-up coil collapses suddenly, which in turn induces a high voltage in the secondary circuit which is fed to the spark plug. This occurs at every power stroke in each cylinder, hence this arrangement being called the “make and break”, since it works by making and breaking an electrical circuit.

Here are some other motoring related gems for your enjoyment:

“IL-GARDEN SHAFT” – from “cardan shaft”(so called because it has a cardan joint) also known as the propeller shaft, or prop shaft for short.

“IL-HORSE PIPE” (hose pipe)

“IL-VAMPER” (bumper)

“IL-MAIN GUARD” jew “MED GARR” (mud guard – but only in England or Australia. In the USA it’s called a fender)

“IX-XOKKABSOWBERS” (shock absorbers – which is not strictly correct since they are more properly called ‘dampers’ anyway)

“IL-GERWILA” (the gear wheel, specifically the one which transmits power from the starter motor to the flywheel)

“IS-SAFE STARTER” (self starter)

“IL-BOCCA TA’ WARA” (the differential, obviously because it looks like a spherical thing in the middle of the rear axle)

“IL-BUXU” (Peugeot)

“IC-CINTURIN” (Citroen)

“IL-FIART” (FIAT)

“IL-GAGWART” (Jaguar)

“IL-MAJSEDES” (Mercedes)

“IL-MITTSU BIXXU” (Mitsubishi)

“IT-TAJOTA” (Toyota)

“IL-KEVIN CRUISER” (Cabin cruiser .. lol)

“L-INXUREN” jew “L-INSURJANS” (Insurance)

“QASAMLI LONG SIDE” (the other driver veered on the wrong side of the road)

“KEMM GHANDHA HORSE POWER DIL-KAROZZA?” (Actually enquiring about engine capacity, not power, which for some reason got eternally muddled up here in Malta)

Oh, and by the way, the actual correct maltese pronounciation for fire engine is “FAJR ENGER” .. lol

@ il cop, thats because you spoil them too much.

Purdie, heard anything about your new Kanak flag? It’s now got a white cross on a white background.

Well said, Hypatia. ‘Stratospheric class’ is an apt description, given the nebulous space they seem to inhabit.

In siggiewi we use manxri (cloth lines) but I know many outside town who don’t know what it means (Sliema, Birkirkara…).

[Daphne – You’d be surprised. I call it ‘manxar’. To anyone who knows the specific verb for hanging out wet laundry, it’s quite obvious what it means. And in my experience, everyone uses that verb. I have yet to hear anyone say: Mur dendel il-hwejjeg fuq il-bejt. And I grew up in Sliema.]

I always assumed liminal to be a conceptual boundary.

e.g.: ceiling is a liminal boundary between the living space and the upper floor/roof

The shore is a liminal space between land and sea

The concept the builder was trying to convey was the centre of an opening and by definition the centre is not liminal as it is surrounded by the same conceptual space.

Harry, that was uncalled for… for the sake of a tired joke you’re dissing men who the Germans used as cannon fodder.

@ Daphne
You are wrong saying that your dogs are the worst behaved in Malta. Next time you visit your parents come and have a look at mine. All three of them. You will change your mind.