Occasionally you can hear the word "multifora", but many people do not understand what it is. And this is not unusual, because in most cases everyone knows the object described as a multifunction, under a much simpler and more common name - a file. This is a transparent stationery package designed for storing papers, most often it happens in A4 format. Its distinctive feature is the presence of perforations on one side for fixing in folders-folders. But why do some people still use the term “multifora”? What it is? Where exactly is the term used? Where did it come from? You can learn all this from this article, which is completely devoted to the concepts of “file” and “multifora”. What is it, you already know, now it's time to consider these words a little more carefully.
Use of the word "file"
Naturally, you are most interested in the word “multifora” - what it is and where it came from. But first, you still need to consider some features of the more common word “file” - moreover, it is also of great interest, especially in matters of origin. But before considering its origin, you need to look at exactly where this term is used. In fact, there is nothing unusual or surprising - the word "file" for the name of the item described above is used almost everywhere throughout Russia. Only in some regions no one uses it, in most cases it is the main one, and in some cases it is adjacent to the term “multifora”. "What it is?" - This is a question that you will be asked in most regions of Russia if you decide to name the file a multifunction.
Origin
As mentioned above, it was with the origin of this term that a rather interesting situation arose. The fact is that the “file” is a borrowing from the English language, however, at the same time, this stationery is not called at all in both British and American English. A “folder” in this language is called a folder-folder, in which files are often placed due to their perforation. However, the reason for such a misunderstanding remains unknown - perhaps the concepts were simply confused, or maybe borrowing long and complex terms from the English language was not reasonable, so a simple and short word migrated to Russian. In any case, now you know why this stationery is called that way. Naturally, the debate on this topic will go on for a long time, but you already have basic information. But it's time to figure out where and why the file is a multifor.
Use of the word "multifora"
It turns out that in the cities of Siberia, plastic files, which are always called that way, are for some reason called multifors. Naturally, in some localities, if you say “file” in an office supply, sellers will understand you. But in many cities, people (especially the older generation) have never in their life heard a transparent stationery package called a file - for them it has always been a multifor. Surprisingly, in virtually no other region of Russia, this name is not common and certainly nowhere else dominates the file. Of course, because of this, questions are raised: "And where did this term come from? What does it mean?"
The meaning of the mysterious word
To date, there are several different versions regarding the origin of this term. One of the most popular is quite simple - people believe that the word "multifora" comes from the Latin multifora, which literally means "one in which there are many holes." This fully fits the description of this stationery. However, there is another, no less plausible version. Previously, a company engaged in the production and sale of office supplies worked in Siberia. It had the name "Multifor" or "Multifor", and it is likely that it was she who advertised files in Siberia, and people had already conducted their association and began to call this office stationery a multifor.
These are the two most likely versions, but there are a number of others - for example, that the word came not from Latin, but from the Italian language, where the phrase multi foro literally means “many holes”. There is another theory - that “multifora” is an abbreviation for the word “multiformat”. The reason for this name is the location of the holes on the side of the file - thanks to it, the file can be placed in any folder-folder of different formats, and as a result a universal folder with A4 files is obtained.
Other name
However, in Russia, the file is called another word that is used most in St. Petersburg and other cities located closer to the border with Latvia and Estonia. This word is “pocket” or “pocket”. It can also be used in other regions of Russia, but much less frequently.
Why "pocket"?
The origin of this term is very easy to explain. The fact is that the file, as everyone knows, has a cut only on one side, where you can put paper. Not everyone knows how to use the file correctly, but if you know, then you also know that it is inserted into the folder with a slit up. And if you use it correctly, it resembles nothing more than a transparent pocket in which you can put all the valuable and important papers that will be kept safe there.