Many words in the Ukrainian language have a long history and evolution, sometimes changing their original meaning or losing it completely. Archaisms that have lost relevance, but remained in our language, often lead to interesting and unexpected associations. Let's consider ten words that once had a completely different meaning, but now may surprise.
- Cattle: This word is now associated with slang, but it was originally used to refer to large cattle, especially bulls. The number of cattle on a farm was an indicator of wealth.
- Bovdur: A modern vulgar word that once meant idols carved from wood. In some areas of Ukraine, it is used in a literal sense, like chimneys preserved in dwellings.
- Guest: Previously, this word had the meaning of foreigners and visiting merchants, not referring to people who visited us.
- Shame: Before the mid-19th century, this word meant any entertaining spectacle or thing put on display, not shame as it does today.
- Healthy: This word was once associated with successful warriors who returned from battle alive and wounded, but not dead. Therefore, healthy warriors were a symbol of success and happiness.
- Fat: The meaning of this word once indicated a desire for material wealth and luxury. The phrase “fat is making you mad” indicates that a person already has everything they need, but is still not satisfied.
- To shout: Previously, this word meant to plow the ground, not to speak loudly.
- Beer: It had a collective meaning of any drink, but later began to be associated with alcoholic beverages, especially hopped ones, like modern beer.
- Holiday: In the past, it indicated emptiness, a day free from work, similar to the modern understanding of a weekend.
- Kissing: This word once meant "healer" or "healer," and the tradition of kissing upon meeting was associated with healing each other.
Studying the history of words can lead to interesting discoveries and enrich our understanding of language evolution.
