odze

• (dialectal form) odzs

Originally the 5th-declension parallel (analogical) form of an earlier 6th-declension (feminine i-stem) form *odzis (cf. dialectal odzs), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ángis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éngʷʰis.

Cognates include Lithuanian angi̇̀s, Old Prussian angis (“snake”), Proto-Slavic *ǫžь (“snake”) (Russian уж (už, “grass snake”), Belarusian, Ukrainian вуж (vuž), Czech užovka (“adder”), Polish wąż (“snake”)), Sanskrit अहि (áhi, “snake”), Old Armenian իժ (iž, “viper”), Ancient Greek ἔχις (ékhis), ὄφις (óphis, “snake”) (< *h₁ógʷʰis), Latin anguis (“snake, dragon”).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [uôdzɛ]

odze f (5th declension)

1. viper, adder (poisonous snake with triangular head, especially Vipera berus)

   odze ir vienīgā indīgā čūska Latvijā ― the viper is the only poisonous snake in Latvia

   krāsa odzei ļoti variē: pelēcīgi brūna, sarkanīgi brūna, zaļganīgi brūna vai dzeltenīgi brūna ― the color of the viper varies a lot: grayish brown, reddish brown, greenish brown or yellowish brown

2. (figuratively) bad, evil person

   “ak tu, odze!” Kaspars dusmās grieza zobus ― oh, you, viper! Kaspars gnashed his teeth in anger