What is "ishka"

Ishka is a fictional character from the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9). A female Ferengi, she is the mother of Quark ( Armin Shimerman) and Rom ( Max Grodénchik). Ishka appears in five canon episodes of DS9, and also features in the non-canon Star Trek novels Doors Into Chaos, Dawn of the Eagles, and Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found).

Conceptualized as a feminist character, Ishka was played by Andrea Martin once and Cecily Adams four times. Both actresses suffered under a lot of makeup, protheses, and costuming. Adams loved the character, and was stunned by the positive fan reaction to Ishka.