See also: spalvā

Latvian edit

 
Spalva (1)
 
Spalva (3)

Etymology edit

From Proto-Baltic *spalwā, from Proto-Indo-European *pel-, *spʰel- (to split, cast off) with a w extension. Alternatively, *spalu- may simply have been a u-stem noun, later transformed into an ā-stem noun: *spalu-ā- > *spalvā-. The original meaning was probably “that which was torn off, plucked, shorn.” Cognates include Lithuanian spalvà (color) (“color” meaning is a secondary development), Sudovian spiła.[1]

Pronunciation edit

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Noun edit

spalva f (4th declension)

  1. feather (branching, hair-like structure that covers the skin of birds; a feather covering)
    pīlu, vistu, baložu spalvasduck, chicken, pigeon feathers
    raibas spalvasspeckled feathers
    mest spalvasto change (lit. throw) feathers, to moult
    plūkt, plucināt spalvasto pluck feathers
    spalvu segafeather blanket, duvet
    spalvu mākoņicirrus clouds (lit. feather clouds)
  2. fur, hair; a covering of hair (on mammals)
    zirgam gluda, spoža spalvathe horse has smooth, shiny hair
    spalvām apaugušas rokas, kājashands, feet covered, overgrown with hair
    mākslīga spalvaartificial, synthetic fur
    liels suns, gludu spalvu, tumši brūns kā kastanisa big dog, (with) smooth fur, dark brown like a chestnut
    truši met spalvu, t. i., mati izkrīt un to vietā izaug jaunirabbits shed their fur, i.e., their hairs fall off and on the same place new ones grow
  3. quill, pen (especially to be used as a writing instrument)
    noasināta zoss spalvaa sharpened goose quill
    rakstāmspalvawriting pen, nib
    pildspalvawriting pen
    rupja, smalka spalvacoarse, fine pen
    iemērkt spalvu tintē, tušāto dip the pen in ink
    pirmais spalvas mēģinājumsthe first attempt at the pen (= at writing, by a new author)

Usage notes edit

In the “writing implement” sense, pildspalva is the usual term, spalva being usually reserved for special, or old-fashioned, pens (especially feather pens) or for metaphorical uses.

Declension edit

Synonyms edit

  • (of "hair, fur"): mati

Derived terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “spalva”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN

Lithuanian edit

 
Lithuanian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia lt

Etymology edit

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *spalwā, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)p(h)el- (to split, cast off), with a w extension. Alternatively, *spalu- may simply have been a u-stem noun, later transformed into an ā-stem noun: *spalu-ā- > *spalvā-. The original meaning was probably “that which was torn off, plucked, shorn.” Cognates include Latvian spalva (feather, fur), Nareva Baltic spiła; the “color” meaning is a secondary development, from “feather, fur.”

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

spalvà f (plural spal̃vos) stress pattern 4

  1. colour, color

Declension edit

Samogitian edit

 
Samogitian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia sgs

Noun edit

spalva f (plural spalvas)

  1. color, colour