paruh

Paruh is a word in Malay and Indonesian with two principal meanings. In its primary sense, paruh denotes the beak or bill of a bird. The beak is a keratinous structure at the mouth used for feeding, probing, grooming, and defense, and its form—length, curvature, and robustness—varies across species according to diet and habitat. In reference to a bird, paruh is typically modified by adjectives or nouns to specify species, as in paruh burung.

In addition, paruh can function as a noun meaning half or part of something. It appears in phrases that indicate portions of time, quantity, or sequence, such as paruh waktu (part-time), paruh pertama (first half), and paruh kedua (second half). The dual sense is common in everyday Indonesian and Malay, and the intended meaning is determined by context.

Etymology: Paruh is a native term in both languages. It is widely used across formal and informal discourse, in science, literature, and everyday speech. The word's dual senses reflect a broader pattern in Malay and Indonesian where a single form links a concrete bodily feature with abstract notions of division or portion. This article uses concise definitions and widely recognized phrases to illustrate its meanings.