kurpniece

From kurpe (“shoe”) +‎ -niece, or kurpnieks (“cobbler, shoemaker”) +‎ -e (“[fem.]”) (with palatalization of k to c).

kurpniece m (1st declension, masculine form: kurpnieks)

1. (female) cobbler, shoemaker

   par kurpnieci nostrādājusi jau ilgus gadus un ne reizi nav nožēlojusi, ka izvēlējusies šo sievietei neparasto amatu ― she had worked many years as a (female) cobbler and not once did she regret having chosen a profession so unusual for a woman

The usual term for “cobbler” is kurpnieks; apavnieks is rare or official.

• apavniece