vlijm
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
From Middle Dutch vlîme, vlieme, from older *vlît(e)me, *vliet(e)me, from Latin phlebotomus, from Ancient Greek φλεβοτώμος (phlebotṓmos). Cognate with Old High German fliodema (modern Fliete), Middle Low German vlêteme, Old English flītme, Old French flieme (English fleam).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
vlijm f or m or n (plural vlijmen, diminutive vlijmpje n)
- A scalpel (sharp small knife with single 3-5 cm long cutting surface as used for surgery)
- A fleam or lancet (sharp instrument with two-sided, 1-3 mm long cutting surface, as used to open a vein for taking blood sample)
- (figuratively, rare) Any sharp or poignant organ, such as a tooth or snake's tongue.
Usage notes edit
Use in the neuter gender is obsolete.
Derived terms edit
- gevlijmd
- vlijmen
- (knife types) laatvlijm, slachtvlijm
- vlijmglad, vlijm-hatelijk
- vlijmkoker
- vlijmscherp
- vlijmslag
- vlijmsnede
- vlijmspits
- vlijmsteek
- vlijmvis
Descendants edit
- Afrikaans: vlym