Joe, Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:48:47 -0800:
>
>> Fact is, again, that ёлка - "in the wild" - can be written ёлка and елка
>
> Though you need a better dictionary: it's the diminutive of ель (as
> in Yel'tsin) meaning "fir tree", and is the 4-letter word for
> "Christmas tree".
The dictionary of Dal,[1] says: «Ель, ели́на, умал. ёлка [snip]», which
ought to mean that ёлка is a diminutive of ель. My impression is the
same as yours with regard to the Christmas tree/New year tree meaning,
but many dictionaries do list "fir tree" as the primary meaning of ёлка
and Christmas/New year tree as a secondary meaning.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Dal
С праздником!
-- leif halvard silliReceived on Fri Dec 21 2012 - 16:05:50 CST
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