gulag

Where does the word "gulag" come from? It comes from Russian GULAG, and was adopted directly into English (1970s).

Gulag’s story begins in Russian: GULAG meant “the Soviet labor camp administration.” An acronym for the Soviet agency administering forced labor camps. It reached English by 1970s as gulag. Popularized by Alexander Solzhenitsyn's writing, then used for any forced labor camp. Today, gulag means a system of forced labor camps, or any oppressive institution.

1. Stage 1 · Russian · 1930s GULAG "the Soviet labor camp administration", an acronym for the Soviet agency administering forced labor camps.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1970s gulag "a forced labor camp system", popularized by Alexander Solzhenitsyn's writing, then used for any forced labor camp.