maltese

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: Mal=tese

CIDE DICTIONARY

maltese, a. 

 Of or pertaining to Malta or to its inhabitants.  [1913 Webster]

Maltese cross. See Illust. 5, of Cross. -- Maltese dog (Zoöl.), a breed of small terriers, having long silky white hair. The breed originated in Malta.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

maltese, n. & adj.
--n.
1 (pl. same) a a native or national of Malta, an island in the W. Mediterranean. b a person of Maltese descent.
2 the language of Malta.
--adj. of or relating to Malta or its people or language.

Idiom

Maltese cross a cross with arms of equal length broadening from the centre, often indented at the ends. Maltese dog (or terrier) a small breed of spaniel or terrier.