lāpstiņa

From lāpsta (“shovel”) +‎ -iņa (“dim.”).

• IPA^(key): [lâːpstiɲa]

lāpstiņa f (4th declension)

1. diminutive of lāpsta
2. (tool) various blade-having tools similar to a shovel like spades, spatulas, trowels, etc.

   kūku lāpstiņa ― cake spatula

   stādāmā lāpstiņa ― garden trowel

   mūrnieka lāpstiņa ― mason's trowel

   koku mizošanai ļoti vajadzīgs darba rīks ir mizojamā lāpstiņa ― a very important tool for barking trees is the peeling blade

3. a flat, blade-like machinery element (e.g., in turbines, propellers, etc.)

   sūkņa lāpstiņa ― pump impeller (lit. blade)

   turbīnas lāpstiņa ― turbine blade

   ventilatora lāpstiņa ― fan, ventilator blade

4. (anatomy) shoulder blade (triangular bone behind the thorax)

   labā, kreisā lāpstiņa ― right, left shoulder blade

   lāpstiņas kauls ― shoulder blade bone, scapula

5. a flat, wide, shovel-like horn structure (e.g., on an elk)

   visspēcīgāk izveidotas ragu lāpstiņas ir Sibīrijas aļņiem, toties Tālo Austrumu aļņiem lāpstiņas gandrīz nekad neveidojas ― the Siberian elks have the most strongly developed horn blades; in contrast, the Far East elks almost never develop blades

A flat, blade-like machinery element (or elk horn) can sometimes be called indifferently lāpsta or lāpstiņa. For “spatula” and “shoulder blade,” however, only lāpstiņa is appropriate.

• lāpsta