Mis on laim ja mida tähendab laimama
What is laim and what does laimama mean in Estonian?

Summary/Abstract: In the article, the Baltic etymology *glaima- ~ *gleima- is suggested for the Estonian verb laimama ’to spread a lie or a shameful fabrication about someone, defame, slander’. Other etymological descendants current in modern Baltic languages include, e.g., Lith. gléimoti ’to smear, soil, besmirch, befoul, pollute; to stick’, gleima ’slime; saliva’, Latv. dial. gliema ’slimy dirt, slime; earthworm’ etc. It is pointed out that Est. obsol. laim : laima ’slander’ is a verbal noun, whence the noun laim : laimu id has been derived by means of the suffix -u. As revealed by etymological semantic analysis, the verb laimama refers to an activity resulting in the defamed person being poured over with an unpleasant sticky liquid or slime. Other expressions with a similar motivation can be found in Estonian as well as in the neighbouring languages.

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