Mal·tese prop. a. Of or pertaining to Malta or to its inhabitants. -- n. sing. & pl. A native or inhabitant of Malta; the people of Malta.
 Maltese cross. See Illust. 5, of Cross.
 Maltese dog Zool., a breed of small terriers, having long silky white hair. The breed originated in Malta.

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 maltese cross
      n 1: Eurasian garden perennial having scarlet flowers in dense
           terminal heads [syn: scarlet lychnis, {Lychins
           chalcedonica]
      2: a cross with triangular or arrow-shaped arms and the points
         toward the center