Names
Mineraali (Mineraal)
Mineral. Close to Metalli and Mehaanika, but also, Tallinn oblige, Vaarika and Maasika. Heaven help us. While English ‘mineral’ has a range of definitions, there is debate as to whether maavara (earth good/asset) might be a better translation. One of a small technico-industrial group, see Keemia.
Mingi (Mink)
American mink, Neovison vison. For the European mink, Euroopa naarits, see Naaritsa. Interestingly, the same word also translates into rouge, or make-up, but derived from German Schminke, make-up or face-paint, itself with its own lovable etymological history: from MHG smēken (to caress lovingly) – whose root *smē‑ gives us Old High German Schmer (fat or lard), modern German schmeicheln (to flatter) – to English smear and Swedish smör, or butter. So I’m sure that’s why we look so tasty.







