laskma

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *laskëdak, from Proto-Uralic *laćke-/*laśke-. Cognates include Finnish laskea, Livonian laskõ, Votic laskõa, Ingrian laskia, Livvi laskie, Ludian laskeda, and Veps laskta; possibly also Northern Sami luoikat (“to borrow; to lend”) (from Proto-Samic *luojkkëtēk), Erzya ластямс (lasťams, “to saddle”), Moksha ласькомс (laśkoms, “to run”), Udmurt лэзьыны (leźyny), Komi-Zyrian лэдзны (ledźny), Northern Khanty [script needed] (ḷŏsχǝj-, “to set free, to release”), and Northern Mansi хот-ло̄сталаӈкв (hot-lōstalaňkv, “to break, to crack”), although these are phonetically and/or semantically uncertain.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɑskmɑ/, [ˈlɑskmɑ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑskmɑ
• Hyphenation: lask‧ma

Verb

laskma (da-infinitive lasta)

1. (transitive) to let, to allow, to permit [with adessive and da-infinitive]

   Kära ei lase magada. ― The noise is keeping [me] awake. (literally, “The noise doesn't let sleep.”)

   Millal sind puhkusele lastakse? ― When can you go on holiday? (literally, “When are you allowed to go on holiday?”)

   Ärge laske tal midagi rasket tõsta. ― Do not allow him to lift anything heavy.

   Me ei lase sind kuhugi, jääd koju. ― We won't let you go anywhere, stay at home.

2. (transitive) to ask, to order, to make (someone do something), to have [with adessive and da-infinitive]

   Laskis endale uue ülikonna õmmelda. ― He had himself a new suit sewn.

   Õpetaja laseb õpilastel luuletusi pähe õppida. ― The teacher has the students memorise poems.

   1. to convey a message through an intermediary

      Tädi laseb teid kõiki tervitada. ― Auntie sends her greetings to you all.

      Arst lasi patsiendi kohe sisse kutsuda. ― The doctor called the patient in immediately.

3. (transitive) to lower, to let down, to sink

   ämbrit kaevu laskma ― lower the bucket into the well

   pead norgu laskma ― let one's head down

   Kirst lasti hauda. ― The coffin was lowered into the grave.

   Lipud lasti poolde vardasse. ― The flags were lowered to the half-mast position.

   1. (intransitive) to descend, to stoop

      vaiba peale kõhuli laskma ― lie down on the carpet (on one's stomach)

4. (transitive, of water) to make flow

   kraanist vett laskma ― turn on the tap (and let the water flow)

   Lase vann vett täis. ― Fill up the bathtub (with water).

   Paisjärv lasti kuivaks. ― The reservoir was drained.

   1. (colloquial) to urinate, to piss, to pee

      Pidin suurest naerust peaaegu püksi laskma.

      I almost had to piss my pants laughing.

5. (transitive) to do something continuously

   sõrmedega nipsu laskma ― snap your fingers (continuously)

   vett keema laskma ― bring the water to a boil

   pipragaasi näkku laskma ― spray pepper spray in one's face

   1. to work with a tool or a machine

      puuriga auku sisse laskma ― drill a hole (with a drill)

   2. to make, play a sound

      Keegi lasi uksekella. ― Somebody rang the doorbell.

      Tantsumuusikat lasti plaatidelt. ― Dance music was played from records.

   3. to move at a quick pace

      tantsu laskma ― dance (energetically)

      Perenaine laseb toa ja aida vahet. ― The housewife keeps running between the house and the granary.

      Päev läbi lasime kauplusi mööda. ― We ran around shops the entire day.

7. (transitive, intransitive) to fire, to shoot (a firearm)

   püssi laskma ― fire a gun

   Seisa, või ma lasen! ― Stop, or I'll shoot!

   Laskis endale kuuli pähe. ― He shot himself in the head.

   Synonym: tulistama

   • 1926, A. H. Tammsaare, chapter X, in Tõde ja õigus I [Truth and Justice I] (Tõde ja õigus; I)‎, volume I, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, published 1974, pages 77–78:

     Vana peremehe ajal oli kõigil teada, et Vargamäe koerad käivad teineteise akna all. Lase või soolaga, ei kuula teised, mädandid, ikka kipuvad. Niisuke roju on koer, kui kahe pererahva vahel on midagi.

     When the last master was here, everyone knew that the dogs on Vargamäe left their poop under each other’s windows. You could shoot them with a salt gun, but the mutts wouldn’t pay any attention. That’s what dogs are like when things are not right between two families.

   1. to shoot (an arrow etc.)

      vibu laskma ― shoot an arrow

      märki laskma ― shoot the mark

References

• laskma in Sõnaveeb (Eesti Keele Instituut)
• “laskma”, in [EKSS] Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat [Descriptive Dictionary of the Estonian Language] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2009