Russia
(ˈrʌʃə)
[med.L., f. Russi the Russians: see Russ. The Russian form Rossiya appears to have been adopted from Byzantine Gr. Ῥωσία.]
The name of the country in the east of Europe, used attributively.
1. a. Russia leather, a very durable leather made of skins impregnated with oil distilled from birch-bark, extensively used in bookbinding.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Gard. Cyrus iii. 147 The like Reticulate grain is observable in some Russia Leather. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 76 Their boots..are made of Russia leather, or Goats skin. 1716 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) V. 365 He hath bound it in Russia Leather. 1740 Woodroofe in Hanway Trav. (1762) I. ii. xvii. 74 Casan..has several manufactures of red russia leather. 1852 C. Morfit Tanning & Currying (1853) 372 Russia leather consists of calf, sheep, and goat skins, dyed generally of a red color. 1871 M. Collins Marq. & Merch. II. viii. 227 Russia leather odorous with the aroma of silver birch-rind. |
| attrib. 1656 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) III. 383 For 2 dozen of Russ. Leather chayres at 7s. 6{supd}. 1676 Ibid., 18 Russia leather Chayres for the Parlor. 1704 Lond. Gaz. No. 4027/4 With a new Russia Leather Saddle and Bridle. |
b. ellipt. in this sense.
| 1818 Art Bk.-binding 45 Mark the paper into squares from point to point each way, and then lay it exactly on the russia. 1862 Burton Bk. Hunter i. 27 No one likes sheep's clothing for his literature, even if he should not aspire to russia or morocco. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xxxvi, The scent of russia from the books. |
| attrib. and Comb. 1817 Dibdin Bibliogr. Decam. II. 510 Specimens of his own russia-bindings. 1818 Art Bk.-binding 45 When the lacing is complete, put a piece of paper on the russia bands. 1846 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. VI. 103 An elegant morocco or russia-bound book. |
2. a. In the specific names of various articles, chiefly made in, or imported from, Russia, as
Russia ashes,
Russia braid,
Russia crash,
Russia drab,
Russia duck, etc. (see
quots.).
| 1819 Pantologia, *Russia ashes, the impure potash, as imported from Russia. |
| 1847 Lady's Newspaper 11 Dec. 566 Gentleman's waist⁓coat. Material—blue..cloth, and green or amber *Russia braid. 1873 Young Englishwoman Nov. 572/1 Travelling toilet of brown cashmere, braided with brown of a darker-shade in Russia and Breton braid. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlewk. 429/1 Russia Braids. These are made respectively in two materials—Mohair and Silk. |
| Ibid., *Russia Crash, a coarse linen, or hempen textile, derived from Russia, or made of Russian hemp. |
| 1780 J. Howard Prisons 299 The men have a *Russia-drab coat and breeches. |
| 1761 Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1912) XLVIII. 95 Best prime *Russia Duck. 1822 M. Edgeworth Let. 6 Feb. (1971) 344 His Russia duck jacket and trowzers. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Russia-duck, a white linen fine canvas. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlewk. 429/2 Russia Duck, this is a description of strong coarse linen Jean, made for trouserings, and having its origin in Russia. |
| 1663 Pepys Diary 6 June, To see the orders about the *Russia hemp that is to be fetched from Archangel. |
| 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 127 We make it [sc. a stove] lined and unlined, and in smooth steel and planished iron (usually called *Russia iron). 1901 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 12 Oct. 8/7 (Advt.), ‘Famous’ Air-Tights [sc. stoves]. Built for light service. Will burn rough blocks of wood. Made of Russia iron. |
| 1839 J. J. Audubon Ornithol. Biogr. V. 504 The nest..has uniformly been built of *Russia matting. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2005/2 Russia-matting, matting manufactured in Russia from the inner bark of the linden. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlewk. 429/2 *Russia Musquash (Fiber zibethicus), this animal is also known as the Perewiaska. |
| 1773 *Russia oil [see Russian B. 2 c]. |
| 1764 Phil. Trans. LIV. 5 The uppermost fillets..were woven something after the manner of *Russia-sheeting. |
| 1859 Rep. Comm. Patents 1858 (U.S.) I. 530 The process of manufacturing sheet-iron, to possess most of the qualifications of ‘polished *Russia sheet-iron’. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2005/2 Russia Sheet-iron, sheet-iron made in Russia, and having a smooth, glossy surface of a purplish color, sometimes mottled. |
b. ellipt. for
Russia iron,
linen.
| 1798 Monthly Mag. June 481 Irish linens are becoming exceedingly scarce... Russias are also very scarce at present. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl. 772/2 s.v. Russian Iron, The American product, or ‘imitation Russia’. |