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MAL aware? Trivia Quiz

Words starting mal... usually indicate something bad, but not always. See if you can pinpoint these words, all beginning with the letters MAL, from the clues.

A matching quiz by davejacobs. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
davejacobs

Time
4 mins

Type
Match Quiz

Quiz #
391,887

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
477

(a) Drag-and-drop from the right to the left, or (b) click on a right side answer box and then on a left side box to move it.

Questions		Choices
1. Like my cheek?		Malaxate
2. 'Tis butt a drink.		Malar
3. Knead help with this?		Malleolar
4. Apple pie is.		Malapert
5. Saucy, but not consumable.		Malmsey
6. Maid in the kitchen.		Malic
7. Foot joint like.		Malkin
8. Chalky stuff.		malm
9. Malayan walking aid?		Malachite
10. Copper source.		Malacca

Select each answer

1. Like my cheek?

2. 'Tis butt a drink.

3. Knead help with this?

4. Apple pie is.

5. Saucy, but not consumable.

6. Maid in the kitchen.

7. Foot joint like.

8. Chalky stuff.

9. Malayan walking aid?

10. Copper source.

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Like my cheek?

Answer: Malar

From the Latin mala meaning cheek (part of the face, not impudence!) malar means pertaining to the cheek.
Malar is also the name of a lake in Sweden which contains over 1000 islands.

2. 'Tis butt a drink.

Answer: Malmsey

Malmsey is a sweet white wine, and also the name of the grape from which it is made, also now known as malvasia.
The word "butt" in the clue is a reference to the possibly true story of Clarence, brother of King Edward IV, assassinated by being drowned in a butt (barrel) of malmsey after plotting against the king. One of the jolly happenings in the Wars of the Roses.

3. Knead help with this?

Answer: Malaxate

What you do when making bread - to malaxate is to soften by kneading. This also works with plasticine, the moulding clay.

4. Apple pie is.

Answer: Malic

Something that is derived from the apple is said to be malic, from the Latin for apple, malum. Malic acid (C4H6O5) is derived from apples and other fruit, and is what gives it its particular taste.

5. Saucy, but not consumable.

Answer: Malapert

From the old French mal and apert, malapert means cheeky, impudent, and can imply being skillful in a mischievous way.

6. Maid in the kitchen.

Answer: Malkin

Malkin is an old word for a kitchen maid, and is also used for an untidy or disreputable woman. It can also mean a mop made from old rags and used for cleaning ovens. Its pronunciation is almost "mawkin".

7. Foot joint like.

Answer: Malleolar

Something to do with the ankle is called malleolar. Each of the knobs you can feel either side of your ankle is a malleolus. The one on the inside is at the bottom of the tibia (shin bone), and the one on the outside is the bottom of the fibula.

8. Chalky stuff.

Answer: malm

Malm is a type of soil that contains much finely grained chalk.
It is also a soft limestone that easily crumbles.
A mixture of chalk and clay that is used to make bricks is also called malm.
Google tells us it is a range of furniture by IKEA.

9. Malayan walking aid?

Answer: Malacca

Malacca is a city in Malaysia (and the state that contains it) that gives its name to cane made from the rattan palm tree. Stouter versions make fine walking sticks, while thinner types may be woven to make chairs for example, and were used by schoolmasters to chastise Victorian children.

10. Copper source.

Answer: Malachite

Malachite is a green crystalline mineral made of copper carbonate, and its name derives from the Greek for the mallow plant, which it was said to resemble, at least in colour. It can be made into a semi-precious gem, and has been used as a beautiful green inlay in furniture.

Source: Author davejacobs

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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