абцугі

Belarusian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Ruthenian обцуги (obcuhi),[1] from Middle Polish obcęgi, from Middle High German hebzange.[2] Cognate with Ukrainian обце́ньки (obcénʹky).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [apt͡suˈɣʲi]
  • Rhymes: -i
  • Hyphenation: аб‧цу‧гі

Noun

абцугі́ • (abcuhím inan pl (genitive абцуго́ў, plural only)

  1. pliers (a metal tool used in blacksmithing to grip and clamp iron)
  2. (figuratively) grip (something that clamps down the development of something)
    Развіццё краіны знаходзіцца ў абцугах дыктатара.Razviccjó krainy znaxódzicca ŭ abcuhax dyktatara.The country's development is in the dictator's grip.
  3. (figuratively, military) pincer attack (encirclement of the enemy from two sides)

Declension

References

  1. ^ Bulyka, A. M., editor (2002), “обцуги”, in Гістарычны слоўнік беларускай мовы [Historical Dictionary of the Belarusian Language] (in Belarusian), numbers 21 (никой – оддухъ), Minsk: Belaruskaia navuka, →ISBN, page 303
  2. ^ Martynaŭ, V. U., editor (1978), “абцугі́”, in Этымалагічны слоўнік беларускай мовы [Etymological Dictionary of the Belarusian Language] (in Belarusian), volumes 1 (А – бячэ́йка), Minsk: Navuka i technika, page 62

Further reading

  • абцугі”, in Skarnik's Belarusian dictionary (in Belarusian), based on Kandrat Krapiva's Explanatory Dictionary of the Belarusian Language (1977-1984)
  • абцугі” in Belarusian–Russian dictionaries and Belarusian dictionaries at slounik.org