Many words in the Russian language have an ancient history of origin. It is very interesting to know the etymology of a word, its other meanings. For example, “obtus” - this word means not only a stupid idler and a lazy person.
Geographical name
It may seem strange to some, but Oboltus is also the name of a river flowing in the Arkhangelsk region and the Republic of Komi. She has other names: Oboldashor and Kuzel. The river is about 11 km long; the mouth is not far from Syktyvkar.
Why exactly the river received such a name, it is definitely impossible to say. Presumably, the root of the word goes back to the verb “hang out" in the meaning of wriggling.
Common Meaning of the Word
Most people will immediately answer that the gibberish is a frivolous person who cannot be trusted with anything. Usually parents who are dissatisfied with their behavior reward their children in this adolescent with such an epithet. Sometimes adults themselves, recalling their unseemly acts in childhood and adolescence, apply this epithet to themselves.
Although the blockhead is, of course, far from praise, but in this case the word conceals the meaning of a certain emotion. Very rarely, this is called an adult. It is understood that this is one who, over time, can become serious, grow up.
Example: “We were still such fools: we climbed into the garden to see Grandfather Nikifor for apples, threw clumps of dirt next to the neighboring pig Havronya, tied a string to Khabariha’s frame at night and rubbed it with rosin, causing a terrible rattle of glass.”
It is clear that here the word “blockhead” has a meaning with negative coloring. But the author clearly hints at the verb “were” that the state is a passing, temporary, sort of teenage hooliganism.
Etymology of the word "blockhead" in different dialects
Etymologists of the Russian language believe that this word is akin to "moron." Residents of Kashino, Tver province, so-called wooden blanks for subsequent crafts. And to this day, often a piece of raw wood, a metal billet for a part is a blank from which later something worthwhile will turn out to be valuable.
That is why they called an unformed person, a teenager, who takes off from work and study. The speaker implies that there is still nothing good to say about the boy, but there is hope that in time he will become a respected person.
Vyatichi often empty people, prone to empty pastime, called Obatus with emphasis on the second syllable. The meaning of the word was equated with such epithets as fools, idler, stunned.
"Oboltus" according to Sobolevsky
This linguist, engaged in the etymology of Russian words, argues that the root in this version goes back to "chatting" or "hanging out".
Chatterboxes, as you know, were not honored in Russia. They were ridiculed. There is no time for a hardworking person to chat - he has plenty to do.
Empty pastime was condemned. Even trips for mushroom berries in past times were not welcome - these are fun things that children should do. And an adult could go to the forest as a vacation in the fall, when all things in the gardens and fields were redone. Although even then these classes were called disrespectfully: to roam, stagger, hang out.
A person who "hangs out" in ponds with a fishing rod, in forests with a basket or, what does not climb at all through any gates, according to the villager of the old way of life, with a book or an easel is an idiot. And he is in no way worthy of respect. Such an attitude to the "hanging out" idle villagers and visitors has been preserved by the elderly in the villages to this day.
"Oboltus" according to Preobrazhensky
This linguist supports the opinion of his colleague Sobolevsky about the common roots of the word and the verb "hang out." However, he attributes the education to his students studying Latin.
He suggests that the ending “mustache” was attached to the root “bolt”. The resulting word is student jargon with imitation of the Latin language.