leavehearsbistke

West Frisian

FWOTD – 13 May 2016

Alternative forms

  • lievehearsbeestke (Ameland)

Etymology

Best translation of the name is "the blessed lord's little animal". Names for this insect in other languages have religious origins: compare Armenian զատիկ (zatik, literally “Easter”), Russian божья коровка (božʹja korovka, literally “God's cow”), Lithuanian dievo karvytė (literally “God's cow”), Romanian vaca domnului (literally “God's cow”), Breton buoc'hig-Doue (literally “God's cow”), German Marienkäfer (literally “Mary’s beetle”), English ladybug (literally “Lady's (Mary's) bug”).

Cognate to Dutch lieveheersbeestje.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /lɪəvəˈhɪəsbɪskə/

Noun

leavehearsbistke n (plural leavehearsbistkes)

  1. ladybird, ladybug
    • 2001 September 14, Omrop Fryslân, "Stoeptegels tsjin geweld".
      Yn Ljouwert komme stoeptegels tsjin sinleas geweld. By trettjin wyksintra komt sa'n tegel te lizzen, mei in leavehearsbistke dêryn.
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