>From:    Edward Lipinski <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Panyemayiem Porusskie? [R] Do you speak Russian?
>I need some little bit of help on a word in the Russian language that is
>undefined as of yet.  It is a Russian word that may be confused with
>Russian word for "ferret,'" which I understand is "khoryok" Apparently
>ferrets are raised in Siberia for their fur and/or the fur business may be
>based on another ferret-like animal (not a mink) that goes by the Russian
>name of "Gornostai.
 
Zdravstvyi Edvard i vse,
I know a little bit of Russian and may be able to help with your question.
To the best of my knowledge, and having double-checked my russko-angliiskii
slovar' izdovalo v Moskve, the word "gornostai" means "ermine" in
Russian...hence the confusion about animals raised for their fur, etc.
 
"Khoryok" means "polecat," which is what Europeans call their ferrets.
 
Hope this helps!
Susann
[Posted in FML issue 2924]