Riemen

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʁiːmən/

Etymology 1

From Middle High German rieme, from Old High German riomo, from Proto-West Germanic *reumō.

Because of its superficial similarity to Russian ремень (remenʹ), some early Russian dictionaries posited a connection between the words, either deriving the Slavic one from the Germanic one (as Chudinov did), or deriving the Germanic word from the Slavic one (as Dal did). The latter suggestion is impossible, as the Germanic pedigree of Riemen is impeccable; the former suggestion is also impossible, according to Vasmer, for phonological reasons.

Noun

Riemen m (strong, genitive Riemens, plural Riemen, diminutive Riemchen n)

1. strap (long, narrow, pliable strip of leather, cloth, or the like)
2. belt (band used in a machine to help transfer motion or power)

Declension

Declension of Riemen [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Riemen	die	Riemen
genitive	eines	des	Riemens	der	Riemen
dative	einem	dem	Riemen	den	Riemen
accusative	einen	den	Riemen	die	Riemen

References

• Aleksandr Nikolaevich Chudinov, Словарь иностранных слов, вошедших в состав русского языка (Dictionary of Foreign Words that are included in the Russian Language), 1910
• Vladimir Ivanovich Dal, Толковый словарь живого великорусского языка (Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language), 1863—1866
• Max Vasmer, Этимологический словарь русского языка (Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language), 1964—1973: "Праслав. *rеmу, род. п. *rеmеnе. Ввиду ст.-слав. примеров [...] заимствование из герм. (ср. д.-в.-н. riumо ’ремень’, ср.-в.-н. rieme) невозможно. В противном случае ожидалось бы *rjumenь." ("Proto-Slavic *remy, gen. *remene. In light of OCS examples [...] a borrowing from Germanic (cf. OHG riumo "ремень", cf. HG rieme) is impossible. Otherwise, one would expect *rjumen.")

Etymology 2

From Middle High German rieme, from Old High German riemo, from Proto-West Germanic *rēmō (“oar”).

The word was chiefly restricted to the technical languages of seafaring (Middle Low German rēme) and navigation on the Rhine, in both of which Ruder has indicated primarily the rudder.

Noun

Riemen m (strong, genitive Riemens, plural Riemen)

1. oar (implement used to propel a boat or ship)

   Synonym: Ruder (common term)

Usage notes

• The word is now current in the terminology of seafaring and watersports, and is familiar to those acquainted with either. Otherwise it may be unknown to many, even well-educated, native speakers.

Declension

Declension of Riemen [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Riemen	die	Riemen
genitive	eines	des	Riemens	der	Riemen
dative	einem	dem	Riemen	den	Riemen
accusative	einen	den	Riemen	die	Riemen

Derived terms

• Riemenfisch
• Riemenrudern

Further reading

• “Riemen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache