biel

See also: Biel

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French bille.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bil/
Audio (file)
Hyphenation: biel
Rhymes: -il

Noun

biel f (plural biels, diminutive bieltje n)

(archaic) railway sleeper

Usage notes

The plural form has been reanalysed as a new singular form. The original singular is no longer commonly used.

Synonyms

Friulian

Etymology

From Latin bellus.

Adjective

biel m (plural biei, feminine biele, feminine plural bielis)

beautiful, handsome

Related terms

bielece

Istriot

Alternative forms

bielo

Etymology

From Latin bellus.

Adjective

biel m (plural bai, feminine biela, feminine plural biele)

beautiful
- 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 68:
  Ma sulo i tuoi bai uoci, anema meîa,
  But only your beautiful eyes, oh soul of mine,

Related terms

balissa

Maltese

Root
b-w-l
2 terms

Etymology

From Arabic بالَ (bāla).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bɪːl/

Verb

biel (imperfect jbul)

(chiefly informal) to pee, piss, urinate
Synonyms: għadda l-awrina, għamel l-awrina, (rarely) awrina

Usage notes

This verb is usually equivalent to English “pee” or “piss” (though not as vulgar as the latter). However, biel is at times found in formal texts, as it is the inherited Arabic word and may thus be favoured in purist style.

Conjugation

Conjugation of biel
		singular			plural
		1^st person	2^nd person	3^rd person	1^st person	2^nd person	3^rd person
perfect	m	bilt	bilt	biel	bilna	biltu	bielu
perfect	f	bilt	bilt	bielet	bilna	biltu	bielu
imperfect	m	nbul	tbul	jbul	nbulu	tbulu	jbulu
imperfect	f	nbul	tbul	tbul	nbulu	tbulu	jbulu
imperative			bul			bulu

Old Polish

Alternative forms

bil

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bělъ. First attested in the 15th century.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /bjɛːlʲ/
IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /bjelʲ/

Noun

biel m animacy unattested

wheat flour
- 1930 [Fifteenth century], “Ex”, in Ludwik Bernacki, editor, Biblia królowej Zofii (Biblia szaroszpatacka)‎, 9, 32:
  Pszenycza a byel nye gest zabyta (triticum autem et far non sunt laesa)
  [Pszenica a biel nie jest zabita (triticum autem et far non sunt laesa)]
- 1874-1891 [15th century], Rozprawy i Sprawozdania z Posiedzeń Wydziału Filologicznego Akademii Umiejętności, volume XXIV, page 65:
  Saciatus hoc ex adipe bely tritico
  [Saciatus hoc ex adipe bieli tritico]
unsalted fat
- 1900 [1472], Józef Rostafiński, editor, Symbola ad historiam naturalem medii aevi = Średniowieczna historya naturalna w Polsce. Ps 2‎, number 472:
  Beel, polecz slonini albugium, lardum
  [Biel, połeć, słoniny albugium, lardum]
mud, swamp
- 1912 [1426], Monumenta Iuris cura praepositorum Chartophylacio Maximo Varsoviensi, volume V, page 40:
  Paludinem dictam byel
  [Paludinem dictam biel]
- 1912 [1427], Monumenta Iuris cura praepositorum Chartophylacio Maximo Varsoviensi, volume V, page 82:
  Octo mansos... in vertice Maslowa byel sitos
  [Octo mansos... in vertice Masłowa biel sitos]
white lead
- 1900 [1472], Józef Rostafiński, editor, Symbola ad historiam naturalem medii aevi = Średniowieczna historya naturalna w Polsce. Ps 2‎, number 33:
  Byel cerusa
  [Biel cerusa]
The meaning of this term is uncertain.
- 1907 [c. 1440], Jakub Parkoszowic, edited by Jan Łoś, Traktat o ortografii polskiej‎, page 401:
  Omnes eciam vocales modo longantur modo patulo breviantur. Ex quarum longacione et breviacione diversus consurgit sensus diccionum. Exemplum... de e sicut beel, bel
  [Omnes eciam vocales modo longantur modo patulo breviantur. Ex quarum longacione et breviacione diversus consurgit sensus diccionum. Exemplum... de e sicut biēl, biĕl]