murga

See also: Murga

English

Alternative forms

• murgha

Etymology

From Hindi मुर्ग़ा (murġā, “rooster”).

Noun

murga (uncountable)

1. A stress position used as corporal punishment in parts of South Asia. The punished person has to squat and loop the arms behind the knees to grip the ears.

Anagrams

• garum

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish murga.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈmur.ɡə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈmuɾ.ɣa]

Noun

murga f (plural murgues)

1. (colloquial) Someone or something that is annoying or boring; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment.
2. A group of bad musicians.

Further reading

• “murga” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Spanish

FWOTD – 4 May 2024

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmuɾɡa/ [ˈmuɾ.ɣ̞a]
• Rhymes: -uɾɡa
• Syllabification: mur‧ga

Etymology 1

Probably from an earlier form *musga, from Latin mūsica, from Ancient Greek μουσική (mousikḗ, “of a Muse”). Unlike the borrowed doublet música, this form is at least semi-learned, although it is uncertain if it was completely inherited.

Noun

murga f (plural murgas)

1. band or group of street musicians
   • 1875, Benito Pérez Galdós, “chapter 6”, in Los Cien Mil Hijos de San Luis:

     las murgas no me dejaron dormir en toda la noche

     the bands didn't let me sleep the entire night

   • 1909, Felipe Trigo, En la Carrera:

     Una murga tocaba en un tablado

     A band was playing on stage

2. (colloquial) bugbear; pain; drag (annoyance)

   Synonyms: incordio, muermo, lata

   • 2022, Diego de Celis, Operación Helium:

     —Vaya murga que nos está pegando la pava esta, macho. Necesito un cigarro

     That chick is such a drag, dude. I need a ciggy.

Derived terms

• dar la murga
• murguero

 

Etymology 2

Noun

murga f (uncountable)

1. amurca

Further reading

• “murga”, in Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy, 2023 November 28