7 top of phraseology, the importance of which many do not realize

1. Spillikins

100 years - a lot or a little? Let's just say enough to over time forgotten the true meaning of the word or phraseologism. Ask any teenager now, if he knows something about the noun "pawns"? Hear something like "this is some nonsense", "unnecessary things", "bryuliki" or "decoration".

So what is "Spillikins"? This is an ancient game that got its name from the archaic verb "Bira" - "to take, choose".

According to its rules, participants were piles of small wooden objects (usually objects up) one by one to get one Spillikins after another, without affecting the neighboring. Usually this is done with the help of special hooks or pins - so small were the details.

This the game It has been known since the XVII century and was originally considered to be fun the common people. But by the beginning of the XIX century, everything changed: then started a real boom biryulechny and love Spillikins swept representatives of all classes.

The Russian Empire was not a single family who would not spend the evening at this gambling thing: all the young and old competed in the amount caught in a toy hook.

It is known that even the family of Nicholas I not spared this passion: for they were made exclusive sets of ivory with precious stones, which are then transmitted over inherited.

How did it happen that a harmless and useful for motor activity grew in idiom with a negative connotation? After all, we know that now, "spillikins" means "to engage in this nonsense and useless to waste time." History is silent causes of such meaning, but, apparently, once this pastime began to exceed the scope of reason.

2. Business before pleasure

It would seem that all is clear: the need to devote more time than any kind of entertainment and fun. But if you were currently in the XVII century and offered to someone play the same pawns after a hard day, referring to the legal hour "for fun", you hardly anyone realized. Because at that time the meaning of this saying was exactly the opposite, and indeed had to do with hunting. Why?

'Cause time and fun time "- a famous saying of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, in which falconry, called fun, attached to almost national importance.

This is eloquently two facts: firstly, it was in charge of the Order of secret affairs - the most influential at the time of establishment in Russia, and secondly, in 1656, by order of the king was drawn up a detailed guide "book, glagolemaya policeman: the new Code and the rank ordering of Falconer Road", which describes the rules and types of bird hunting.

Fortunately, we have reached a genuine manuscript of "constable", where there is a postscript, "His Majesty the hand": "... do not forget the case of time and fun time." We drew attention to the connection the word "and"? So, Alexis implied that need to be addressed equally and hunting, and affairs; to the same time "hour" and "time" are synonymous and both mean "a long period".

The decline of falconry as a case of national importance came in the reign of Peter I, who, unlike his father, it was indifferent. Nevertheless, the history of the royal sentence did not end there: in folklore, she entered as a "business time, fun time", and then completely acquired a new meaning thanks adversative conjunction "but." At the same time, and the "fun" have new meanings: first "excessive entertainment" and then, and "fun, fun, fun."

3. Seven Fridays of the week

What do the Gentiles, and the people who work five days a week? Both have always attached special importance to Friday. In pagan times, this day was dedicated to the goddess of fertility and patron of feminine Mokosh, so that all women were forbidden to spin, weave and wash.

After the adoption of Christianity, this tradition was reborn on the day of St. Paraskeva (Paraskeva - literally from the Greek "Friday"), which was considered the keeper of the family happiness and assistant in agricultural labor as Mokosh.

Over time, the veneration of St. Paraskeva was discharged two days in the year 14 and 28 October in the old style. But there were votive Friday, when many Orthodox still refused to work, and that was condemned by the church. For example, all the old Russian superstition associated with this day of the week, called the Hundred Chapters "bogomerzkih and enticements of devils":

Yes, in the churchyard and the village and townships go false prophets, men and Zhonka and girls, and staryya women, naked and barefoot, and by growing her hair and dissolve, shake and killed. And they say that they are Good Friday and Saint Anastasia and tell them to zapovedati hrestyanom canons zavechivati. They are commanded to farmers on Wednesday and Friday, the manual is not the case delati and wives do not spin, and dresses not myti and stones and other razzhigati not commanded bogomerzkih tvoriti case except divine writings ...

Stoglav, 1551

Obviously, it is about these and said that they have seven Fridays in the week. And now, so say those who frequently change their decisions.

4. Post oak

Once, in a conversation with a friend, I heard the phrase in his address: "What are you, an oak gave?" How do you think she meant? It turns out, just wanted to know if everything is okay in my head and if I was crazy. What was her surprise when she found out that the true meaning of this phraseologism - to "die". Yes. And there are several versions of its origin.

On one of them, the turnover is related to the verb "zadubet" ( "cool, numb, become firm"). Thus, its original meaning - "to become fixed as an oak oholodet". According to another idiom it can be associated with the tradition of burying their dead under a tree.

A third version of the origin of the expression connects with pagan rites: according to this hypothesis, the turnover initially sounded like "give the oak", that is to bring a sacrifice to the deity. Why the oak? This tree was a sacred symbol of Perun - the pagan god of thunder.

5. Sherochka with masherochkoy

Sherochka you today so sour, like autumn fly?

"Falling stars" D. N. Mamin-Siberian

What do you think would surprise anyone in the XIX century, after hearing about sherochke? Not. Because while this treatment to women was widespread: ma chère - «my dear" - usually they called each other pupils Institute for Noble Maidens. From this French phrases appeared "sherochka" and "masherochka" as derived nouns in the Russian style.

Initially sherochkoy with masherochkoy jokingly called the most noble of noblewomen who dancing paired due to lack of gentlemen. And it is clear, where it was to take the men in women's educational institution? Subsequently, so we began to talk about any close friends - "best friends."

not confused in the previous sentence, you have nothing? I do not casually put in a row, and "sherochku with masherochkoy" and "bosom friends": the last time these idioms often used as synonymous, although it is better not to do so. Yes, they both mean the friendship, but still the oldest friend - rather, pal, because before "pour over his Adam's apple" meant "to drink alcohol, drink." All this is not even close to worth with intelligent sherochkami!

6. Pour on the first number

In pre-revolutionary times, students often whipped rods, sometimes for no reason. If someone arrives especially a lot of strikes, punishable by defect could release as much until next month. That is why, and to say "pour on the first number."

7. wash up bones

Here is another idiom, the origin of which creeps. And all because it is associated with the ancient rite of re-burial of the deceased.

In the old days, some people believe that the unrepentant sinner after death could come out of the grave as a vampire. And in order to rid it of curse, occasionally dug deceased relatives and washed remains pure water, milk or wine.

Over time, this ceremony has sunk into oblivion, and the phrase "wash up bones" for some reason, it was to communicate with slander and gossip. Apparently, no wonder the ancient Greek politician and poet Chilo of Sparta (VI cent. BC.. E) said: "On the dead or good, or nothing but the truth."

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Even more interesting and unexpected things about the etymology and grammar of the Russian language can be learned from the book "The mighty Russian."

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