Often in everyday life we come across words and concepts that have come out of the modern vocabulary. By the words, from which antiquity blows, the "settlement" refers. This concept was actively used in Russia before the 1917 revolution. "The guy from the settlement" - such an expression could often be heard in those days.
What does the word "settlement" mean?
This word denoted the name of settlements or streets. Sloboda - this is translated from Old Slavonic means “freedom”. Literally, “freedom from burden.” Therefore, it was clear that people free from taxes live in settlements.
Before the revolution, Russia was considered an agrarian country, and the word "settlement" also denoted settlements in which they were engaged not in agriculture, but in some kind of craft. For example, in Rybnaya Sloboda, which is located near the city of Kazan, the villagers are still smoking fish.
Who was exempted from taxes?
Until the 17th century, there were white and black settlements. The whites included settlements located in territories belonging to the boyars and nobles. These settlements were exempted from state tax, but they paid rent to the feudal lord.
Black settlement is a settlement in which free artisans lived, who paid tax to the state. As often happens, abuses began: people fled to white settlements in order not to pay taxes, and the state treasury began to suffer losses. Therefore, in 1649, according to the Council Code, benefits for white settlements were canceled, only one name remained.
Over time, the word "settlement", which means "freedom", has lost its original meaning, and so began to call settlements where there were one or two churches, fairs were held, and the population practically did not engage in agriculture. Distinguished these settlements by occupation or belonging to the estate. For example, artisans involved in pottery lived in the pottery settlement, soldiers lived in the soldiers' settlement, servants of the gentlemen lived in the palace settlement, etc.
Where can I find this word now?
Although the word "settlement" has a clearly archaic meaning, it can still be found in the names of the settlements of Smolensk, Vologda, Yaroslavl and other regions.
“Sloboda” - this word is found in the names of firms, organizations and sports teams. For example, this is the name of the trademark of a company that produces mayonnaise and oil. In Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the word "settlement" is present in the names of football clubs. In Tula, this is the name of one of the city newspapers. This word can also be found in the names of cafes and restaurants.
In addition, from the word "settlement" and its derivatives came the East Slavic surnames Sloboda and Slobodchikova.