ˈRusski, a. and n. slang or colloq.
Also Roosky, Ruski, Rusky, Russky.
[ad. Russ. Russkiy.]
= Russian a. and n. Hence ˈRusski-land, Russia.
| 1858 F. Duberly Let. July in E. E. P. Tisdall Mrs Duberly's Campaigns (1963) vi. 197 Was I the English⁓woman who had gone with the armies to make war against the Ruski? 1859 All Year Round No. 36. 220 The rough warrior, whose keen shaska had lopped off Rusky heads like radishes. 1894 Sir J. D. Astley 50 Yrs. Life I. 212 As they advanced, the Ruskies let drive with their big guns. 1919 Amer. Legion Weekly 22 Aug. 22/1 Large numbers of lowly ‘Rooskies’ plodded through the weary days. 1919 Our Navy (U.S.) Nov. 15/1 The Russkis were friendly to us because we had a lot of rubles. 1920 Amer. Legion Weekly 12 Mar. 5 A.E.F. Siberia..en route to Russki-land. 1923 D. York Company A 50 A little Russki at one side drew our attention. 1937 G. Frankau More of Us xiii. 135 To Mussolini's braves and Hitler's huskies Left we the task of tackling Stalin's Russkies. 1948 M. Laski Tory Heaven i. 14 People like the Russkis and the Yanks like dealing with gentlemen. 1957 V. Nabokov Pnin 71 He and Serafima, his large, cheerful, Moscow-born wife..would throw Russki parties every now and then, with Russki hors d'oeuvres. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 55 We've got to produce our own variety, and not imitate the Americans—or the Ruskis, or anybody. 1961 Even. Bull. (Philadelphia) 29 Mar. 22/3 (caption) Keeping up with the (Russki) Joneses. 1978 I. B. Singer Shosha ii. 38 A Russky with all these qualities is awaiting you there. |