khmyr'

[michael.pushkin]

... Znakomyi lektor mne vchera
Skazal: "Antimiry? Mura!"
Ya splyu, vorochayus' sprosonok.
Naverno prav nauchnyi khmyr'...

Moi kot, kak radiopriemnik,
Zelenym glazom lovit mir.

(Andrei Voznesensky, 'Antimiry')

Supporting evidence for the 'grouch' / 'wet blanket' approach? Is it perhaps
derived from 'khmykat''? (Oxford gives 'to hem', expr. surprise, annoyance,
doubt etc.)

Michael Pushkin
CREES
European Research Institute
University of Birmingham
UK

----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward M Dumanis" <dumanis at BUFFALO.EDU>
To: <SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2005 3:30 AM
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] khmyr'


> On Wed, 15 Jun 2005, Elizabeth M. Sheynzon wrote:
>
> > While looking for an English equivalent, don't forget that the word --
whichever nuances you
> > attribute to it -- refers primarily and probably solely to the
appearances, the looks, and not an
> > essence. You wouldn't say that after a year of knowing somebody you
found out he was a "khmyr'",
> > but you would say "kmyr'" about someone you don't really know (or don't
want to know) and are not
> > prepared to like.
>
> I disagree.
> A quick search of usage on Yanex gave, e.g.,
> "ja emu ot chistogo serdtsa, a on moi blinchiki zhrat'!!!!!!!!!!nu ty
> khmyr'!!!!!!!!"
> Quoted from
>
http://forum.buzuluk.ru/viewtopic.php?p=6703&sid=14e6af873e6869b93d91dcded2544dd9
>
> Clearly, it is not an appearance here.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Edward Dumanis <dumanis at buffalo.edu>
>
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