matryoshka

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Russian матрёшка (matrjóška), from personal name Матрёна (Matrjóna), formerly Матрона (Matrona), ultimately from Latin mātrōna (matron).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): (UK) /ˌmætɹɪˈɒʃkə/, (US) /ˌmɑtɹiˈoʊʃkə/
  • Hyphenation: ma‧try‧osh‧ka
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

matryoshka (plural matryoshkas or matryoshki)

  1. One of a set of wooden Russian dolls of different sizes, designed such that each fits inside the next. [from 20th c.]
    Synonyms: babushka, babushka doll, matryoshka doll, Russian doll
    • 2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin, page 35:
      The past is not only a foreign country that we half knew existed; it is hiding another concealed country behind it, and behind that one, another, and another – like a set of Russian matryoshki, in which larger dolls conceal smaller.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

Portuguese

Noun

matryoshka f (plural matryoshkas)

  1. alternative spelling of matrioshka