sirms

From Proto-Baltic *śirˀmas, from *ḱr̥-m-os (with a suffix -m), from Proto-Indo-European *ker-, *ḱer-, *ḱr̥- (“gray color”), whence also sērsna (“frozen snow layer”) (q.v.). Cognates include Lithuanian šìrmas, šir̃mas, šir̃vas (“gray”).^[1]

• IPA^(key):

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

sirms (definite sirmais, comparative sirmāks, superlative vissirmākais, adverb sirmi)

1. (of hair, beard, etc) gray (having become grayish white after losing its original color)

   sirmi mati, grumbaina seja ― gray hair, wrinkled face

   sirma bārda ― gray beard

2. (of people, people's body parts) gray, gray-haired (having gray hair)

   sirms vīrs ― gray-haired man

   sirma galva ― gray head

   sirmi deniņi ― gray temples

3. (of animals, birds) gray (having a light gray or grayish white color, fur, plumage)

   sirma stirna ― gray doe

   sirma bebrāda ― gray beaver skin, fur

4. (figuratively) gray, grayish white

   pār Daugavu kūp sirma migla ― over the Daugava (river) a gray fog spreads itself

5. (figuratively) very old, ancient

   sirms vecums ― old (lit. gray) age

   nodzīvot sirmu mūžu ― to live a long (lit. gray) life

   sirmas majas ― old (lit. gray) houses

   sirmā Rīga ― old (lit. gray) Rīga

   sirma senatne, senatnība ― very distant past, ancient times (lit. gray antiquity)

• iesirms
• sirmmatains, sirmmatis, sirmmate

• sirmis