vlijm

Dutch

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /vlɛi̯m/

• Audio

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• Hyphenation: vlijm
• Rhymes: -ɛi̯m

Noun

vlijm f or m or n (plural vlijmen, diminutive vlijmpje n)

1. A scalpel (sharp small knife with single 3-5 cm long cutting surface as used for surgery)
2. 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)
3. (figuratively, rare) Any sharp or poignant organ, such as a tooth or snake's tongue.

Usage notes

Use in the neuter gender is obsolete.

Derived terms

• gevlijmd
• vlijmen
• (knife types) laatvlijm, slachtvlijm
• vlijmglad, vlijm-hatelijk
• vlijmkoker
• vlijmscherp
• vlijmslag
• vlijmsnede
• vlijmspits
• vlijmsteek
• vlijmvis

Descendants

• Afrikaans: vlym