zek
English edit
Etymology edit
From Russian зэ́к (zɛ́k), probably representing a pronunciation of з/к (z/k), Soviet abbreviation of заключённый каналоармеец (zaključónnyj kanaloarmejec, “prisoner member of the [White Sea–Baltic] Canal army”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
zek (plural zeks)
- A prisoner at a Russian prison, especially (historical) at a Soviet labour camp. [from 20th c.]
- 1988, Natan Sharansky, translated by Stefani Hoffman, Fear No Evil, page 235:
- Every prisoner who recants is a potential influence on other zeks to do likewise.
- 2004 February 8, Jason Burke, The Observer:
- There are the zeks, the survivors of the gulags, some honest about their experiences, others still deluded or traumatised decades later.
Anagrams edit
Basque edit
Noun edit
zek
- ergative indefinite of ze
Breton edit
Numeral edit
zek
- Soft mutation of dek.
Wutunhua edit
Noun edit
zek