Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008.
See what “Cuckold” is in other dictionaries:
Cuckold- INSTRUCTION 1, I love you; possessed; owls Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
cuckold- change, enrich Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Synonym dictionary
cuckold- (to plant, set up, draw horns) who will cheat on her husband (wife) or seduce someone else’s husband (wife) ... Dictionary of Russian argot
cuckold- Nast / cuckold (husband) Cheat on your husband ... Dictionary of many expressions
instruct- Cuckolding is used as a symbolic designation of betrayal of one’s husband (colloquial). Glad you cuckold him. Chekhov. He has been wearing horns for a long time (deceived by his wife). And wealth suits her, and horns suit you. A. Pushkin. Point your nose... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language
MENTOR Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
MENTOR- 1. INSTRUCTE1, I will instruct, you will instruct, master. (to instruct1). 1. what and whom what. Deliver in some quantity (colloquial). Train the watchmen. Set up a lot of furniture. 2. what. Adding, adding, lengthening by any amount. Set up the ladder... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
instruct- INSTRUCTION, I love you, you see; possessed; Sovereign 1. whom (what). Put in what n. quantity (colloquial). N. chairs. N. fives in the diary. N. bruises, bumps. 2. what. Lengthen by adding what n. why n. N. sleeves. 3. what. Approaching, aim (colloquial). N.... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
instruct- I vlu/, vi/sh; St. see also instruct, instruct, instruction 1) what and whom what Put, arrange, place where l. in which l. (usually large) quantities. Place a dozen guards at each door... Dictionary of many expressions
Horns to instruct- HORN 1, a, plural. horns, horns, m. outgrowths (paired or unpaired) from the bony substance on the skull of some animals, as well as outgrowths on the head of some insects and mollusks. Horns of a bull, goat. R. rhinoceros. Deer horns. Beetle horns, snails. Dictionary … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
Books
- Why do we say this? Small encyclopedia of popular and figurative expressions. We often use catchwords, imbuing our speech with shades of irony, reproach, jokes, or use aphorisms as an apt description of the phenomena of our life. Often we don’t think about... Buy for 326 RUR
- Why do we say this? Small Encyclopedia of Winged and Figurative Expressions, Kharchenko A. (comp.). We often use catchwords, imbuing our speech with shades of irony, reproach, jokes, or use aphorisms as an apt description of the phenomena of our life. Often we don't think about...
We all know very well that the expression “cuckold” means cheating on your spouse. The deceived husband plays the role of a “cuckold.” There are several explanations for the appearance of this phraseological unit.
The first version is associated with a custom in ancient Germany, according to which a wife put a helmet with horns on the head of her husband, who was about to go on a campaign (mandatory equipment for a warrior of that time). This meant for the woman that she “equipped her husband and remained free.” Often, when husbands returned home, they discovered in their families children born by their wife from another man.
The basis for the second version was the Ancient Greek myth about Aktion.
One day, Aktion, who was hunting, accidentally saw the goddess of hunting Artemis bathing with her nymphs, and instead of leaving, he began to watch them. In the end, Artemis noticed the peeping Action and, angry, turned the unlucky hunter into a deer. Trying to escape, Aktion was torn to pieces by his own dogs, who did not recognize their own master.
The third version appeared thanks to a decree of the German emperor in 1427, which strictly prohibited being in the army with a wife. It was believed that the military spirit weakens after a night with his wife. Those who violated the decree had to wear horns on their heads everywhere.
Also, Emperor Andronikos Komnenos, who ruled Byzantium in 1183-1185, had a hand (although still not quite a “hand”) in the appearance of this phraseological unit. It should be noted that Andronik was beautifully built, had an attractive appearance, possessed dexterity, strength, eloquence, and owned various types of weapons. But the main distinguishing feature of the emperor was his passion for women and his love of love. Andronik's mistresses were women of different classes: from courtesans to the wives of aristocrats. His love affairs aroused only hatred among citizens, because any woman he liked could end up in bed. Andronikos's character was prone to causticism, and he considered it funny to hang deer antlers over the gates of the houses of suffering husbands who did not dare to object, hinting at the debauchery of their wives. As a sign of his favor, the emperor sometimes allowed deceived husbands to hunt in their own domains.
But the expression “cuckold” came into the Russian language, most likely, from France, whose monarchs began to apply the practice of granting hunting rights in protected areas to the husbands of French beauties. Deer antlers were also attached to the gates of their estates. In France, the “husband of the king’s mistress,” temporary or permanent, was called “cuckold.” Later, this was the name given to all husbands whose wives cheated with others. It was under this context that the meaning of owl “cuckold” became entrenched in our language.
Everyone knows the ironic expression meaning physiological betrayal. That is, if the wife went to the left, then the husband was cuckolded. Moreover, in the case of the opposite, if the husband actively fulfills his marital duty, but, of course, not with his wife, then they usually don’t say that.
There are many versions of the appearance of this interesting expression. Here you have the Byzantine emperor, fucking the wives of his nobles and, as an apology, granting them the right to hunt on the imperial lands, and as a “certificate” for hunting, obliging them to nail deer antlers to the gates of the estate; and the ban of the German emperor on wives being in the army, and as punishment for violating the ban - putting horns on the head (although what does treason have to do with it - the devil knows, but a legend is a legend); and again, the German custom of the Middle Ages - the wife putting on a horned helmet for her husband when seeing off to war, implying - she sent the hateful one away, and she herself is free!; even the ancient version has been mixed in - the transformation by a certain goddess of a young man spying on her bathing into a deer. Although in this version the very concept of treason is somehow not traced. Well, guess what, I took a peek. I didn’t touch it with my hands... In general, etc. and so on.
In principle, all of them, these versions, have a place to be and you can take note of any of them. But! The question is that this expression is much older than its presented versions date back to. The expressions “cuckold” and “cuckolding” are already found in ancient literature, which completely excludes versions about the Middle Ages and even the Byzantine emperor.
One of the more plausible versions that I have encountered is the identification of the horn and the penis by the ancient Greeks. In general, quite often this particular euphemism - horn = penis - was used in various written sources that have come down to us. Although it is also difficult to draw analogies here: where is the betrayal here, and why should a husband’s horn (or penis) grow? And even on the forehead?
Thus, in my opinion, the most plausible version is a banal comparison of a deceived husband with a horned animal, such as a deer. It is with the help of horns that such animals fight for the female, and the analogy here is direct - “you have grown horns!” - that is, “idiot, it’s time for you to either fight for your mate, or just teach your opponent a lesson!” So, no matter how you nail the antlers on the gate, the deer is still a deer.
“Cuckolding” means cheating on your husband (wife), breaking marital fidelity. A cuckold is a husband whose wife has cheated on him, or does it systematically. In the Explanatory Dictionary of D. N. Ushakov, one of the meanings of the word “horn” is “a symbolic designation of betrayal of one’s husband.”
In the Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language V.I. Dahl’s explanation of the word “horn” indicates that horns, in the meaning of infidelity, betrayal of a wife, “were taken from the West, and in our country horns have always meant (as in church language) power or pride, arrogance, perseverance.”
The exact origin of the expression and word is not known. There are several versions of the origin of this phraseological unit. At the same time, the sources indicate the same versions of the origin of the phrase “cuckold” and the word “cuckold.” This means that the meaning of the phrase “cuckold” and the word “cuckold” are the same and have the same source of origin.
The original expression is “cuckold”, and the word “cuckold” is secondary. In this case, deer antlers are always meant.
According to one of the versions given in the book “Phraseological Units in Russian Speech” (Melerovich A.M., Mokienko V.M.), the phrase is borrowed from the German language and is associated with the military equipment of the ancient Germans. A mandatory attribute of equipment for warriors of ancient Germany was a helmet with characteristic horns.
According to custom, the wife, accompanying her husband to war, put a helmet on his head. In this case, in the language of women, this meant “equip your husband for a campaign and remain free.”
Often, returning from a campaign, husbands received an addition to the family - children adopted by their wife from other men.
According to another version, the expression became known from the myth of Actaeon, a character in ancient Greek mythology.
According to the myth, the hunter Actaeon, approaching the place where he was accustomed to rest, heard a woman’s laughter. Having crept up to the lake and looking out from behind the thick branches of the bushes, he saw the bathing goddess Diana, accompanied by nymphs.
The beautiful sister of the god Apollo, the daughter of the thunderer Zeus - Artemis in ancient Greek or Diana in Latin - the goddess of the hunt. The distinctive features of the goddess of the hunt are a quiver, a golden bow and a torch.
Angry that a mere mortal dared to glance at her naked body, Diana splashed water in his face. The young man turned into a deer with huge branching antlers. He quickly rushed into the forest, fleeing from his own hounds. But it was too late: a pack of dogs did not recognize the owner as a deer with slender legs and tore Actaeon into pieces.
Actaeon is used in the meaning of “cuckold, deceived husband.” At the same time, based on the plot of the myth, Actaeon was not a husband, much less a deceived one.
According to the third version, the expression comes from a German imperial decree issued in 1427. The decree prohibited being in the army with a wife. The argument was given that the military spirit weakens after a night spent in bed with his wife. A warrior who violated the ban was required to wear horns.
According to the fourth version, the expression “cuckold” came about thanks to the Byzantine emperor Andronikos Komnenos (1183-1185).
Andronik was educated, had strength, courage, dexterity, beauty and intelligence. The love affairs of the emperor, who sometimes kept in touch with several women at the same time, were a source of gossip among residents of the capital.
Andronik's amorous amusements aroused the hatred of respectable citizens. The emperor chose his beloved from among the wives of his nobles. High-ranking husbands did not dare to object.
As a sign of the highest mercy, the loving emperor allowed the husbands of those women with whom he had a love affair to hunt animals in their own domains. Deer antlers were hung above the gates of their homes, which indicated the debauchery of their wives. As a joke, they said about such a husband that he had horns on his forehead.
Sources describing the personal life of the emperor also testify to the fact of donating land to deceived husbands.
As compensation, the husbands of the emperor's mistresses received huge hunting grounds, where huge herds of deer grazed.
Deer antlers, which were solemnly nailed to the gates of the estate, served as a sign of the right to the estate.
Presumably the expression “cuckold” came into Russian from Greek or French. The French monarchs adopted the experience of the Byzantine emperor. The husbands of beauties were given the right to hunt in the protected forests and lands of France.
As a sign of royal favor, deer antlers were nailed to the gates of the deceived husband's estate.
In France, the word "cuckold" meant "the husband of the king's permanent or temporary mistress." Subsequently, all spouses whose wives sinned with other men began to be called cuckolds. It was this version that became entrenched in the Russian language.
The shameful position of the French cuckold was aggravated by the right of the first night, which existed almost until the eighteenth century. The lord could make the bride of any of his subjects happy by spending his first wedding night with her. This ancient feudal custom is reflected in the play by the French writer P. Beaumarchais “Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro” (1779).
Reviews
I didn’t even think about how many versions of the origin of this idiom there are! But, of course, the last one is most likely correct: “As a sign of royal favor, deer antlers were nailed to the gates of the deceived husband’s estate.” The mercy of the monarch...- ah-ah. With a smile,
Thank you, Ella Evgenievna!
In the old days, cheating on your husband was a common occurrence. Cuckolded husbands were held in high esteem - they were generously presented with gifts! There was no concept: “but I was given to someone else, and I will be faithful to him forever” (c).
All the best to you!
Sincerely
There is incredible confusion about the origin of this expression.
Still from the film “Horns,” directed by Alexander Azha, 2013.
Most popular etymological reference books give the following options:
1. The expression is associated with the Byzantine emperor Andronikos Komnenos (1180 - 1185), who chose his lovers from among the wives of his nobles. Husbands received huge hunting lands as compensation and, as a sign of their right to the estate, nailed deer antlers to the gates of the estate.
2. In ancient Germany there was a custom: a wife, accompanying her husband to war, put a helmet with horns on their heads. Among women, the expression “to put horns on a husband” meant to equip the husband for a campaign and remain free.
3. An expression from the myth of Actaeon, who spied on the bathing goddess Diana and for this was turned by her into a deer.
4. A German imperial decree of 1427 prohibited being in the army with a wife. Anyone who violated the ban had to wear horns.
5. In English, to designate a husband whose wife has cheated, the word “Cuckold” is used, which is derived from cuckoo - cuckoo and is associated with the fact that the cuckoo lays its eggs in someone else’s nest. The expression “wearing the horns of a cuckold” is used in the same meaning, as well as the shorter “wearing the horns”. Probably “wearing horns” in English came from the fact that often the deceived husband is the last to know about his wife’s infidelity and, in this sense, he is like a man who wears horns - everyone notices his wife’s infidelity.
Well, etc.
All this is very naive and unreliable, if only for the reason that the expressions “cuckold”, “to wear (instruct) horns” are already found in ancient literature.
A much more reasoned hypothesis is put forward in the book by Onians R. “On the Knees of the Gods: The Origins of European Thought on the Soul, Mind, Body, Time, World and Fate.” Per. L. B. Sum. M., 1999. p. 235 - 240.
The researcher derives the expression we are interested in from the ancient symbolism of the horn and related ideas.
In Homeric times, horns were held in special esteem; they were gilded before the animal was sacrificed. In the Cretan-Mycenaean era, horns were considered sacred and therefore were called “horns of dedication” - these were the horns themselves or their images. They were usually placed above the altar or above the sanctuary, in "sacred places." The sacrifice was identified with the deity (those who partook of the sacrifice communed with God)... We can compare not only Homeric customs with Minoan beliefs, but also the horn altar preserved on Delos.
Why were horns endowed with such holiness? Because they were the concentration of the life force located in the head (Greek psyche). What grows from the head is naturally perceived as a continuation of what is in the head itself. Democritus explained the growth of antlers in a deer as follows: “The bone covering the brain is very thin, membrane-like, and from it thick tubes rise to the top of the head. The food and its most generative part quickly rise up the head, and the fat is distributed around the whole animal outside, while the power of nutrition goes into the head through tubes, and from it grow horns, moistened with abundant moisture. This moisture, constantly pouring in, pushes the shoots forward, and the liquid, leaving the body, hardens as the air cools it and turns it into a horn.” Probably, the philosopher was prompted to this idea by the process of solidification of the flowing juice and resin.
Horns are a manifestation of generative power and are used primarily in sexual life. Citing many examples, Darwin comes to the conclusion that “horns and fangs in all cases develop primarily as sexual weapons,” i.e. they are used by males in fights for the female.
The Greeks, in particular Archilochus, called the male member a “horn” - κέρας. The connection of the horn with fertility explains Diomedes’ mockery of Paris: “an archer, a boaster, proud of his horn, pursuing maidens.” Later, in some counties of England, “to be horned” meant “to be lustful,” and the epithet “horny” meant “loving.”
If “horn” had such a sexual meaning in ancient times, it becomes clear why an unfaithful wife “cuckolds her husband.” Probably the joke implied that the wife was trying in favor of her husband. A man who “had many Parises of his Helen in his house” (Anthologia Palatina, XI 278) turned out to be horned. The note to this epigram calls the spouse a cuckold. This is the earliest mention of this expression.
In medieval poetry, especially the 13th century, a horn grows on the forehead of the deceived spouse. Soon in Europe the custom arose of decorating the husband's head with horns, demonstrating what his wife had endowed him with. Probably, the connection of horns with fighting fervor caused by sexual feelings also played a role here. Deer lose their antlers every year after mating and grow them back the following year. Having lost his horns, he loses both courage and desire for females. Compassionate neighbors could decorate the head of a patient husband with horns in order to restore to him the missing sexual power and enthusiasm generated by the substance in the head.
A deceived husband is an angry husband. The additional meanings of cerebrum, cerebrosus confirm that, from the Roman point of view, the more brain a person had, the more he had of the substance that manifests itself in rage and aggression. Ovid, describing his belated anger over his beloved’s betrayal, exclaims: “late horns appeared on my head.” The same with Petronius: “angry ones, from whom horns grow for their sins”; in Virgil: irasci in cornua - about a bull whose anger turns into horns.