kibitka

Where does the word "kibitka" come from? It comes from Tatar kibit, passing through Russian before entering English (1790s).

Kibitka’s story begins in Tatar: kibit meant “booth, tent.” A booth or felt-covered shelter of the Volga nomads. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Russian as kibitka. A hooded wagon or sledge for long journeys, notorious for carrying exiles to Siberia. It reached English by 1790s as kibitka. Used in English accounts of travel across the Russian empire. Today, kibitka means a Russian hooded wagon or sledge; a nomad's felt tent.

1. Stage 1 · Tatar · medieval kibit "booth, tent", a booth or felt-covered shelter of the Volga nomads.
2. Stage 2 · Russian · 1700s kibitka "covered wagon", a hooded wagon or sledge for long journeys, notorious for carrying exiles to Siberia.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1790s kibitka "a Russian covered wagon", used in English accounts of travel across the Russian empire.