Latvian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [vīːlɛ]

Noun

vīle f (5th declension)

1. (carpentry tool) file (block of coarse metal attached to a handle, used for removing sharp edges or cutting)

   plakana, apaļa vīle‎ ― flat, round file

   rombveida vīle‎ ― diamond file

   rupja vīle, rupjvīle‎ ― coarse file

   smalka vīle, smalkvīle‎ ― smooth, fine file

   skrāpju vīle, skrāpjvīle, skrāpvīle‎ ― rasp, grater file

   nagu vīle‎ ― nail file

   vīles spals‎ ― file handle

   iecirst vīlei jaunus zobus‎ ― to cut new teeth on a file

   vīle jātur ar abām rokām‎ ― a file must be held with both hands

Declension

Derived terms

• rupjvīle, rupja vīle
• smalkvīle, smalka vīle
• skrāpjvīle, skrāpvīle, skrāpju vīle

Etymology 2

Vīle

Vīle

From the verb vīt ‎(“to twist, to wind, to wreathe”) (q.v.) +‎ -e (with an extra element -l). The orginial meaning was probably “something (that was) wound” (compare Lithuanian vielà “wire” < “something wound”), from which also “something sewn.”^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [vìːlɛ]

Noun

vīle f (5th declension)

1. seam, hem (folded back and stitched piece of fabric)

   krekla vīle‎ ― shirt hem

   sānu, plecu vīle‎ ― side, shoulder seam

   zeķes bez vīles‎ ― socks without seam(s)

   vīles kreklam atirušas‎ ― the shirt seams have come undone, have unraveled

   iegludināt biksēm vīles‎ ― to iron the pants hems

2. seam-like, line-like projection or fold on clothes, fabric, created by folding or ironing

   armijas bikses ar nažveidīgi asām iegludinājumu vīlēm‎ ― army pants with knife-like sharp ironed seams

3. line-like swelling or injury on the skin, usually a result of a blow or hit; also a line-like scar or wrinkle

   kreisajos deniņos, kur mati bija tālu atkāpusies, ārsts sataustīja cietu rētas vīli‎ ― on the left temple, where the hair had receded far, the doctor felt a hard line-like scar

   tiešām, tas bija vecs cilvēks, kurš te sēdēja uz Maijas gultas, tumšās vīlēs sastrādātās rokas klēpī salicis‎ ― indeed, it was an old man who sat on Maija's bed, his hands, full of dark line-like bruises from work, placed on (his) lap

4. (rare) a relatively narrow rectilinear band or stripe formed by surrounding objects

   kas būtu mūsu Latvija bez kokiem, bez birztalām, bez silu zilām vīlēm? — what would our Latvia be without trees, without groves, without the blue stripes of pine forests?

   mēness aiz mākoņiem uzlēcis; lauku ceļu vīles labi saskātamas‎ ― the moon rose behind the clouds; the stripes of the field roads (became) clearly visible

Declension

Synonyms

• šuve

References

1. 1 2 Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “vīle”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7