Lemizh / English dictionary
782 lemmata in dictionary – view complete dictionary on one page (slow!) – multilingual dictionary
marnà.
to make beetles
Usage notes
The image of this word changed completely in NLem: from insects that were pests to beetles in general, and especially to harmless and beautiful ones such as ladybirds. The semantic change meant that a new word for insects was needed (especially by entomologists), so entoma was academically loaned from Koine Greek.
Etymology
< NLem marn‑a
< LMLem, MLem marnk‑yr ‘insect, pest’
< OLem marnk‑ ‘something to be squashed > insect, pest’
< PLem *marnx‑ ‘clutch, squash’, nasal-infix present of
< PIE *merh₂‑
Cognates
Gk μάρναμαι ‘fight’, probably Eng night‑mare