Russia

Etymology

1530s, from Medieval Latin Russi (“the people of Russia”), from Old East Slavic Русь (Rusĭ, “Rus”) (whence Arabic رُوس (rūs) and Byzantine Greek Ῥῶς (Rhôs)), which originally referred to a group of Varangians who established themselves near Kiev in the 9th century and ruled Kievan Rus; probably from Proto-Finnic *roocci, from Old East Norse *roþs- (“related to rowing”); related to Old Norse Roþrslandi (“the land of rowing”), an older name of Roslagen, where the Finns first encountered the Swedes. Ultimately from Old Norse róðr (“steering oar”), from Proto-Germanic *rōþrą (“rudder”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to row”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹʌʃə/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Rus‧sia
• Rhymes: -ʌʃə
• Homophone: rusher

Proper noun

Russia (countable and uncountable, plural Russias)

2. A transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. Official name: Russian Federation. Capital and largest city: Moscow. It borders the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas. Part of the Soviet Union from 1917 through 1991.
3. (historical, loosely) The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (a very common name, although more formally Russia, the RSFSR, was one of several constituent republics of the USSR).
4. (historical) The Russian Empire; the tsarist empire in Russia lasting from 1721 to 1917.
   • 1911, “Ukraine”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica‎:

     Ukraine (“frontier”), the name formerly given to a district of European Russia, now comprising the governments of Kharkov, Kiev, Podolia and Poltava.

5. (historical, dated) Kievan Rus; the medieval East Slavic state centered in Kiev.
   • 1911, “Ukraine”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica‎:

     Ukraine (“frontier”), the name formerly given to a district of European Russia, now comprising the governments of Kharkov, Kiev, Podolia and Poltava.

6. (dated, countable) Any of several East Slavic states descended from Kievan Rus, typically including Russia (Great Russia), Belarus (White Russia) and Ukraine (Little Russia).
   • 1842, George Eliot, Selections from George Eliot's letters, Letter to Cara Bray, page 24:

     Or rather if I be attaining a better autocratship than that of the Emperor of all the Russias — the empire over self.

   • 1914, Russia and the Russian People:

     Then there is White Russia and Red Russia, Great Russia and Little Russia, Russia of the Frozen North and Russia of the Far East — a Russia equally dangerous to every one of her neighbours […]

Noun

Russia (countable and uncountable, plural Russias)

1. Short for Russia leather.
   • 1914, Shoe and Leather Journal, volume 27, page 36:

     Dull Russias will prove a good selling line for women according to the predictions of certain manufacturers.

See also

• Countries of the world
• (countries of Asia) country of Asia; Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
• (countries of Europe) countries of Europe; Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City
• former Soviet Union
• former USSR
• Soviet Union (historical)
• USSR (historical)

Further reading

• Russia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Name of Russia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Sauris

Proper noun

Russia

1. Russia (A transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia)

Etymology

1538, from Medieval Latin Russī (“Russians”). Ultimately from Byzantine Greek Ρωσία (Rōsía).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈrus.sja/
• Rhymes: -ussja
• Hyphenation: Rùs‧sia

Proper noun

Russia f

1. Russia (A transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia)

See also

• rutenio
• ruteno
• (countries of Europe) paesi d'Europa; Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaigian, Belgio, Bielorussia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Bulgaria, Cechia, Cipro, Città del Vaticano, Croazia, Danimarca, Estonia, Finlandia, Francia, Georgia, Germania, Grecia, Irlanda, Islanda, Italia, Kazakistan, Lettonia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Lussemburgo, Macedonia del Nord, Malta, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, Norvegia, Paesi Bassi, Polonia, Portogallo, Romania, Regno Unito, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovacchia, Slovenia, Spagna, Svezia, Svizzera, Turchia, Ucraina, Ungheria ^{(Category: it:Countries in Europe)}

Anagrams

• Sauris, russai, usarsi, ussari

Alternative forms

• Rossia

Etymology

Sixteenth-century Latinisation of the Middle Russian Русь (Rusʹ, “Rus”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈrus.si.a/, [ˈrʊs̠ːiä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈrus.si.a/, [ˈrusːiä]

Proper noun

Russia f sg (genitive Russiae); first declension

1. (New Latin) Russia (A transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia)