Etymology

perm

P3E1R1M3

Today it means: To give hair a perm, using heat, chemicals etc. Full definition →

Russian Пермь
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perm · noun, verb1

Short for permanent.

perm · noun2

Short for permutation.

perm · noun3

Short for permission.

Perm · proper noun4

  1. Russian · borrowed fromПермь
  2. English todayPerm

Borrowed from Russian Пермь (Permʹ), probably from a Proto-Finno-Permic (Uralic) stem; compared to Estonian põrand, dialectal põrmand (“floor, ground”) by P. Alvre in Keel ja Kirjandus No 7, 1981, pp. 407-413. Compare Bjarmaland. Appears on western maps as latinized Permia in the late 16th century (Mercator (1595)). The Russian city of Perm is a modern foundation, established under Peter I in 1723.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.