שמיר

Hebrew

Root
שׁ־מ־ר (sh-m-r)

Etymology 1

Alteration of שֻׁמָּר (šummā́r, “fennel”)

Noun

שָׁמִיר • (shamír) m

1. dill (herb)

Etymology 2

Unknown, possibly in an unknown fashion extended from Akkadian 𒉌𒌓𒌑 (^NA₄U₂ /⁠šammu⁠/, “emery, corundum, adamant”), also present in Egyptian jsmr, smr if that really means “emery”, and in Ancient Greek σμύρῐς (smúris, “emery-powder”), loaned likely from a Semitic cognate of the Hebrew.

Noun

שָׁמִיר • (shamír) m

1. emery
2. mythical stone, or possibly worm, that could cut through or disintegrate any substance it came in contact with, adamant

Descendants

• → Aramaic:

  Classical Syriac: ܫܡܝܪܐ (šāmīrā)

  • → Arabic: سَامُور (sāmūr)

References

• “שמיר” in the Hebrew Terms Database of the Academy of Hebrew Language

Further reading

• שבת ריחני on the Hebrew Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^he

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Yiddish

Etymology

From or cognate to German Schmiere. Cognate with German schmieren, English smear.

Noun

שמיר • (shmir) m, plural שמירן (shmirn)

1. batch of things that go together
2. aggregate, smear, spread
3. bribe
4. schmear, the whole package, the entire deal

Related terms

• שמירן (shmirn, “to smear, grease; to bribe”)

Descendants

• → English: shmear

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

שמיר • (shmir)

1. inflection of שמירן (shmirn):
   1. first-person singular present
   2. imperative singular