Glossary
- Aspen
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Always associated with magic. Its trembling leaves give it a weird appearance.
- Bába Yagá
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Russian witch, also Yagá-Búra.
- Babushka
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The grandmother.
- Bárkhat
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This word also means velvet.
- Bátyushka
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Father in a general sense, meaning anybody older. Otéts is father, meaning the relationship of father and son.
- Birds’ milk
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The Russian folktale expression for asking for the moon.
- Boyárs
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This may be translated earls, but in the Russian social scale it only meant the bigger men, the seigneurs.
- Boyáryni
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Countesses, feminine plural of boyár.
- Chúdo-Yúda
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The Old Man of the Sea. This is a very clear loan from the Homeric Proteus.
- Dyádka
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Uncle. A term of respect.
- Egórushko Zalyót
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Means George the Bold Flier.
- Fatá
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A long silken glove.
- Gúsli
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A musical instrument, something like a zither with seven strings.
- Iváshko Zapéchnik
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Iván, who is always sitting behind the stove.
- Iváshechko
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A diminutive form of Iván.
- Iváshko
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A diminutive form of Iván.
- Izbá
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Hut.
- Kaftán
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A peasant’s overcoat, made very long.
- Khvalýnsk
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The old name of the Caspian. Vide Vazúza and Vólga.
- Korolévich
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King’s son. Koról, king.
- Korolévna
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King’s wife.
- Ksálavy
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Mythical birds, the meaning of which is entirely unknown.
- Mikháilo Ivánovich
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The popular name for the bear.
- Mísha Kosolápy
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Dmítri, the Bandy-legged.
- Morévna
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Of the sea.
- Nikíta
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From the Greek Νικήτης, conquer.
- Pope
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Village priest.
- Pud
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A Russian weight. Thirty-six pounds avoirdupois.
- Sarafán
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A short sleeveless jacket, generally embroidered, worn over the bodice or the blouse.
- Sazhén
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A length of seven feet.
- Sebézh
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A city in the Vítebsk province, bordering on Poland. The Poles and the Mussulmen are all called infidels, Saracens or Busormany.
- Shúba
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A fur mantle.
- Stárosta
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Mayor of a town.
- Teléga
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A peasant’s cart without springs.
- Tsarévich
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Tsar’s son.
- Tyátya
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Daddy.
- Tsarévna
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Tsar’s wife.
- Úkaz
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Imperial edict.
- Ványa
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A diminutive form of Iván.
- Vertodúb
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The oak-turner, a gigantic figure.
- Vertogór
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The mountain-turner; a gigantic figure.
- Vóron Vóronovich
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Crow Crowson.
- Zamorýshek
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This name is freely translated Benjamin, the last-born son of an old man.