In the Russian language there are many words whose origin has roots since ancient times, but is commonplace today. The origin of obscure words has its own history and interesting facts. Sometimes it means a completely different meaning or, on the contrary, confirms the meaning that is put into it.
Contemptuous word
The meaning of the word "trash" is quite interesting and diverse. Shvalyu called several subjects. First of all, "trash" is rabble, shushval, insignificance. This is how they characterized the lowest stratum of society, vile and not representing anything. These are insignificant little people, with disgusting acts, who have lost the respect of society.
Tailor Ivan Shval
There are other versions of what trash is. In the Dahl dictionary there is evidence that this word is associated with sewing. The man who sewed clothes, the tailor, who created a new wardrobe with his own hands, was respected, but the old origin of the word “shvets” sounded like “trash”.
Why, after all, was the tailor nicknamed a trash? There is an interesting story related to the origin of the crude nickname.
In 1611, the Swedes attacked Russia. They surrounded Novgorod and did not have the opportunity to get into the city. They were inactive for a long time, and the townspeople, who day and night prayed to God for salvation from the enemy, hoped that the enemies would soon retreat. However, a certain tailor, nicknamed the trash, betrayed his native land, opening the city gate in front of the enemy army. Earlier, he promised the Swedes that he would let them into the city, because he knew that the gate was not very diligent. July 15, Ivan Schwal fulfilled his promise. Because of this, in the future, the word "trash" began to be used as a scornful characterization of a traitor, insignificance, base person.
French nickname
According to another version, the word "trash" has come to modernity since the Napoleonic days. When Napoleon’s army besieged Russian cities, soldiers often went hungry and ate horsemeat. They did not even feel squeamish about eating the meat of fallen horses. The French word le cheval translates as "horse". Russian people, contemptuously watching the French, called them "trash."
Arguing about what trash is, scientists argue that it is short for the word "shushval". So in the old days they designated "useless thing, a piece of fabric from which there is nothing impossible to create." In any case, "trash" has the meaning of "futility" and "worthlessness", "junk". Gradually in Russia, the word "trash" from things went over to the characterization of a man despised by society and worthless for nothing.