namas

From Proto-Algonquian *name·ʔsa (“fish”).

namas (animate, plural namasak)

1. (a) fish

   namas wôbigo

   (the) fish is white

   • 1884, Joseph Laurent, New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues:

     Ôda n'wajônôw namas.

     I have no fish.

• namasiia (fish-meat)

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *damús (“house”), from Proto-Indo-European *domos, from *dṓm. Cognate with Latvian nams, Proto-Slavic *dȍmъ, Latin domus, Ancient Greek δόμος (dómos), Sanskrit दम (dáma).

The etymology seems rather secure despite the irregular sound change from *d- to *n-. The original d may be seen in dialectal apìdėmė (“landplot between two homesteads”); compare the more recently formed apýnamė (“area surrounding a house”).

The assimilation is most frequently explained as from the zero-grade *dm- > *nm-, with subsequent generalization onto the full-grade stem. Compare Avestan 𐬥𐬨𐬁𐬥𐬀‎ (nmāna, “house, quarters”). However, the only zero-grade derivative actually attested in Lithuanian, dimstis (“village, estate”) < *dm̥-st-i-, lacks this particular sound change.

• IPA^(key): /ˈnaː.mɐs/

nãmas m (plural namaĩ) stress pattern 4

1. house (residential dwelling)
2. (in the plural) home (the place where one lives); family estate, homestead

   Šiañdien dìrbu ìš namų̃ ― I'm working from home today.

3. (in the plural, collectively) household (the residents of a house)
4. (in the plural) house (public institution)

   Kultū̃ros namaĩ ― House of Culture

namas

1. genitive plural of nam