vlijm

From Middle Dutch vlîme, vlieme, from older *vlît(e)me, *vliet(e)me, from Latin phlebotomus, from Ancient Greek φλεβότομος (phlebótomos). Cognate with Old High German fliodema (modern Fliete), Middle Low German vlêteme, Old English flītme, Old French flieme (English fleam).

• IPA^(key): /vlɛi̯m/

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• Hyphenation: vlijm
• Rhymes: -ɛi̯m

vlijm f or m or n (plural vlijmen, diminutive vlijmpje n)

1. a scalpel (sharp small knife with single 3-5 cm long cutting surface as used for surgery)
2. a fleam or lancet (sharp instrument with two-sided, 1-3 mm long cutting surface, as used to open a vein for taking blood sample)
3. (figuratively, rare) any sharp or poignant organ, such as a tooth or snake's tongue

Use in the neuter gender is obsolete.

• Afrikaans: vlym