Neiuvaiba (Neiuvaip)

Lit. maiden’s covering, carpet or tapestry, epipactis, helleborine, Epipactis spp., terrestrial orchids with a fondness for wet environments, although not universal: soo-neiuvaip, marsh helleborine, E. palustris, yes, but less so the city-friendly laialehine neiuvaip, broad-leaved helleborine, E. helleborine or the tumepunane neiuvaip, dark-red or royal helleborine, E. atrorubens, which prefers warm and dry. One of the Mähe flower-name group, see Nurmenuku.

Nelgi (Nelk)

Carnation, pink, dianthus (from the Greek, God’s flower: Διός [Dios] ‘of Zeus’ and ἀνθός [anthos] flower). Three species indigenous to Estonia

• Nurmnelk, maiden pink, Dianthus deltoides, with dark red blossoms
• Nõmmnelk, sand pink, D. arenarius, with white blossoms;
• Aasnelk, large (lit. meadow) pink, D. superbus, with pink blossoms, i.e. a pink pink.

The name ‘pink’ seems originally unrelated to its color (although some people think the flower might have given the color its name), but refers to the fringed, or ‘pinked’ edges. Pinking shears, as every needle-person knows, are scissors designed for cutting fabric in zigzag lines to limiting fraying. The carnation is also one of Estonia’s favorite (or perhaps just commonest) gift flowers. See also Sinilille.

Niidi (Niit)

Thread, filament. One of a textile raw materials street group. See also Puuvilla.