MUNXAR,
another of the smaller villages of Gozo, lies to the south
of the island between Xlendi valley and the village of Ta'
Sannat. Its name is derived from a distinguished feature of
the area. Munxar is Maltese for "bucksaw", a saw
set in an adjustable H-shaped frame, used for sawing firewood
on a buck. The imagery is suggested by the promontory that
runs from behind the village church sawing into two the surrounding
area creating the Wied tal-Ghancija, "Ghancija valley",
on the Munxar side and Wied ix-Xlendi, "Xlendi Valley",
on the Fontana side. This place-name is not restricted to
Gozo: a similar headland in the east of Malta is also known
as Munxar. The name is first recorded as ll Monxar in a notarial
deed of July 2,1584.
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