iekaut

iekaut is a Latvian verb meaning to stab or pierce with a sharp instrument, typically a knife or dagger. The act involves driving a blade into a person or an object, and it is most often described in contexts of violence, crime reports, medical descriptions, or historical narratives. As a transitive verb, iekaut normally takes a direct object representing the receiver of the stab and an instrument in instrumental phrases.

The word is formed with the prefix ie- attached to the stem kaut, a pattern common in Latvian for producing perfective or directional verbs; this notes a sense of completion or inward action. Its usage is largely literal, though in some stylistic or figurative contexts it can convey sudden or forceful insertion or penetration. In everyday language, more neutral terms may be preferred for non-graphic descriptions.

In Latvian literature and journalism, iekaut appears in reports of injuries, battles, and crime, as well as in historical texts describing duels and military encounters. The term requires careful handling in translation to convey the degree of violence and intent.

See also: iedurt (to stab through or pierce with a weapon), iešaut (to shoot); related terms for piercing or penetrating actions.