Maltese a. : Of or pertaining to Malta or to its inhabitants.

Maltese n. sing. & pl. : A native or inhabitant of Malta; the people of Malta.

Example:
How many puppies does a Maltese have on a first litter?

Taxonomy
Maltese, dog, breed, Maltese dog, The Maltese, 04-14, 04-16, puppy, Melita, dog breed, google, History, dq, Toy Dog, Coat, Toys, London, free encyclopedia.

Defination from the web:
Maltese is thought to have been descended from a Spitz type dog found among the Swiss Lake dwellers and bred down to obtain its small size. ... The drop ears with long hair and very dark eyes, surrounded by darker skin pigmentation (called a "halo"), gives Maltese their expressive look. ...