letaw
verb; adjective/stative
Sense 1 — FLOATING
Sense 2 — VISIBLE THROUGH A COVERING
Notes
The two senses share the concept of remaining perceptible at or through a surface rather than being fully submerged or concealed.
The word is ordinarily used of flotation on liquids. Application to something suspended or floating in the air is possible but rare, so English float should not be allowed to imply that aerial floating is equally typical.
This distinguishes letaw from a general verb meaning merely to see or to be uncovered. Something may be physically covered and nevertheless letaw if it remains visually discernible.
Related entries
paletaw — Root of
balsa — See also
salbabida — See also
Lexicographic assessment
FLOAT and SHOW THROUGH as two related senses of one inherited lexeme, not as homophones.
The semantic pathway is very natural:
FLOAT AT THE SURFACE → COME TO / REMAIN AT THE SURFACE → BE EXPOSED TO VIEW → BE VISIBLY DISCERNIBLE