кочерга

Russian

Etymology

Per ESSJa, inherited from Proto-Slavic *kočerьga/*kočьrga. According to Vasmer, inherited from a Proto-Slavic form, probably with the original sense of “stump, stalk”; compare Ukrainian кочерга́ (kočerhá), кучу́рга (kučúrga), Polish koczarga, Belarusian качарга́ (kačarhá), Russian коко́ра (kokóra), коча́н (kočán). Alternatively (but less likely), perhaps a Turkic borrowing; compare Tatar күчәргә (küçärgä, “to move”), Southern Altai кӧчӱр (köčür, “to relocate”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

кочерга́ • (kočergá) f inan (genitive кочерги́, nominative plural кочерги́, genitive plural кочерёг, diminutive кочерёжка)

1. poker (metal rod for adjusting burning logs or coals in a fire)
2. (automotive slang) steering-wheel lock, club lock
3. (automotive slang) stickshift, manual gear lever
4. (automotive slang) column-mounted shifter

Usage notes

• Many native speakers find it difficult to produce the genitive plural of this term.

Declension

Derived terms

• кочега́р (kočegár)
• кочерёжник (kočerjóžnik)
• ста́рая кочерга́ (stáraja kočergá)

References

• Vasmer, Max (1964–1973) “кочерга”, in Oleg Trubachyov, transl., Этимологический словарь русского языка [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), Moscow: Progress

Ukrainian

Etymology

According to Vasmer, inherited from a Proto-Slavic form, probably with the original sense of “stump, stalk”; compare Russian кочерга́ (kočergá), кучу́рга (kučúrga), Polish koczarga, Belarusian качарга́ (kačarhá), Russian коко́ра (kokóra), коча́н (kočán). Alternatively (but less likely), perhaps a Turkic borrowing; compare Tatar күчәргә (küçärgä, “to move”), Southern Altai кӧчӱр (köčür, “to relocate”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

кочерга́ • (kočerhá) f inan (genitive кочерги́, nominative plural коче́рги, genitive plural коче́рг, diminutive кочере́жка)

1. poker (metal rod for adjusting burning logs or coals in a fire)
2. (plural only) tools used in conjunction with a fireplace or stove: poker, shovel, tongs, etc.
3. (plural only) the place where these tools are kept

   Synonym: коцюба́ (kocjubá)

Declension

Derived terms

• кочере́жник (kočeréžnyk)

References

• Bilodid, I. K., editor (1970–1980), “кочерга”, in Словник української мови: в 11 т. [Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 11 vols] (in Ukrainian), Kyiv: Naukova Dumka
• “кочерга”, in Горох – Словозміна (in Ukrainian)