OriginFrom Old Norse sperra, from Proto-Germanic *sparrijaną.
- common-genderstop, catch, block, blockade, ban, limit, bar, lock (something stopping or hindering)
- common-gendergate, entrance (requiring a ticket or entrance fee)
“Stengolvet spricker när en ung kille hoppar över spärrarna och perrongen är full av sopor.” — The stone floor cracks as a young fellow jumps over the gate and the platform is full of garbage. (Stockholm subway interior)
- common-genderratchet or similar mechanism
- common-genderthe (electoral) threshold, i.e. the minimum percentage of votes required in an election in order to win seats in parliament
- common-genderembargo or blockade (in particular Sweden during World War II, blocking Swedish ports from international waters)
“Han hade seglat utanför spärren under hela kriget.” — Throughout the war, he had sailed on ships on international waters, outside of the embargo line.
Formsspärr(indefinite, nominative, singular) · spärrs(genitive, indefinite, singular) · spärren(definite, nominative, singular) · spärrens(definite, genitive, singular) · spärrar(indefinite, nominative, plural) · spärrars(genitive, indefinite, plural) · spärrarna(definite, nominative, plural) · spärrarnas(definite, genitive, plural)