Editing Melilla (section)

== Etymology ==
{{see also|Rusadir#Name}}
[[Borrowing (linguistics)|Borrowed]] from [[Spanish language|Spanish]], the [[English language|English]] name ''{{linktext|Melilla}}'' is pronounced {{IPAc-en|m|ɛ|ˈ|l|iː|j|ə}}<ref name=lex>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Melilla |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182054/https://www.lexico.com/definition/melilla |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Melilla |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|l|iː|j|ə}}<ref name=mw>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Melilla|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> to approximate the sound of the [[elle (letter)|Spanish double L]], properly {{IPA|es|meˈliʝa|}} in most standard [[Spanish dialects]]. The name is attested from the 9th century,{{Sfn|Lara Peinado|1998|p=25}} deriving from [[Arabic language|Arabic]] {{translit|ar|Malīlya}} ({{lang|ar|مَلِيلْيَة}}, {{IPA|ar|maˈliːlja|}}) of uncertain etymology. The name has been related to [[honey]] ({{langx|es|miel}}; {{langx|la|mel}}; {{langx|grc|μέλι}}, {{translit|grc|méli}}) since Melilla was a notable site for [[beekeeping]] in antiquity,{{Sfn|Lara Peinado|1998|p=25}} a [[bee]] appearing prominently on the city's [[bronze coin]]age under [[Mauretania]]n rule.{{sfnp|Head & al.|1911|p=889}} Alternatively, it has been taken from words meaning "discord", "fever", or a medieval [[Arab people|Arab]] figure.{{Sfn|Lara Peinado|1998|p=25}}{{which|date=April 2024}}<!--which words in which language? what "Arab personality"?--> The placename perhaps comes from the Amazigh root M·L (meaning 'white'), producing the Amazigh ''mlilet'' and which results in the local {{translit|rif|Mrič}} ({{IPA|ber|mrɪtʃ|}}) via /l/→ [r] and /lt/ → [č] changes.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last=Yahia|first=Jahfar Hassan|year=2014|title=Curso de lengua tamazight, nivel elemental. Caminando en la didáctica de la lengua rifeña|language=es,rif|location=Melilla|publisher=GEEPP Ed.}}</ref>{{sfn|Tilmatine|2011|p=25}}