ierocis

== Latvian == === Etymology === Derived from ie- +‎ roka (“hand”) and made into a second-declension masculine noun (ending -is). The original meaning was probably “handle” (“in-hand”), maybe “sword handle” (in some older sourcers, ierocis is given as a synonym of zobens “sword”). In the 18th and 19th centuries, ierocis, like its Lithuanian cognate, could also mean “tool, instrument” (< “something held with one's hand”); its military meaning grew gradually more important, becoming dominant by the end of the 19th century. Cognates include Lithuanian į̇́rankis (“tool, instrument, weapon”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ìɛɾuôtsis] === Noun === ierocis m (2nd declension) weapon (instrument used to injure, kill, or destroy) medību ierocis ― hunting weapon šaujamais ierocis, šaujamierocis ― firearm eksplozīvie ieroči ― explosive weapons aukstie ieroči ― blade (lit. cold) weapons masveida iznīcināšanas ieroči ― weapons of mass destruction bakterioloģiskie, bioloģiskie, ķīmiskie ieroči ― bacteriological, biological, chemical weapons ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== kodolierocis šaujamierocis, šaujamais ierocis === References ===