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бить баклуши. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
бить баклуши, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
бить баклуши in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
бить баклуши you have here. The definition of the word
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Russian
Etymology
баклу́ша (baklúša), which is now only used idiomatically, originally meant a stick or plank of split wood that is used for making wooden dishes, spoons, toys, etc.
Vladimir Dal' claimed that chopping a short wooden block (bolt) in smaller pieces is allegedly an easy task, but modern scholars reject his etymology (even though it's still widespread).
According to Mokiyenko, dialectal and foreign Slavic material rather indicates that it was a metaphor for playing gorodki.
Alternatively, Moldavan suggested that the idiom may originally have meant playing music with wooden spoons and similar makeshift percussion instruments.
Pronunciation
Verb
би́ть баклу́ши • (bítʹ baklúši) impf
- (idiomatic) to loiter, to twiddle one's thumbs
1875, Alexander Ostrovsky, Волки и овцы:
Conjugation
Conjugation of
бить баклуши: see
бить