Chukovsky

[Judson Rosengrant]

Regarding кушерка.  It does mean midwife and in its primary sense is not
necessary pejorative (see Dahl, 3rd ed.).  But in the context of Chukovsky's
usage and that of his circle, it appears to stand for a kind of severe,
smug, semi-educated, matronly type [cf. prison matron], a person of little
imagination or generosity of spirit, of which Krupskaya may have been the
Bolshevik epitome.  The following diary entry for 10 April 1920 is a fine
example of the usage and may indeed be the one that prompted the question.
In any case, the context is, with its rather sinister historical undertone,
a vivid definer of the meaning:

Кругом немолодые еврейки, акушерского вида, с портфгелями.  Открылось
заседание.  На нас накинулись со всех сторон. . .   Особенно горячо говорила
одна акушерка--повелительным голосом.  Оказалось, что это тов. Лилина,
жена Зиновьева. . .

JR


Judson Rosengrant, PhD
PO Box 551 
Portland, OR 97207

503.880.9521 mobile
jrosengrant at earthlink.net

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