жиган

Russian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʐɨˈɡan]

Noun

жига́н • (žigán) m anim (genitive жига́на or жигана́, nominative plural жига́ны or жиганы́, genitive plural жига́нов or жигано́в)

1. (criminal slang, originally derogatory) thief in law
2. (slang) scoundrel; swindler; fraudster; rogue; cheat

Usage notes

• The term originally carried derogatory connotations, and was used at the beginning of the 20th century by established members of the criminal underworld towards newer criminal outfits: particularly those run by Tsarists after the Russian Revolution, who engaged in organized crime as a form of resistance against the Soviet regime. However, such connotations no longer apply.

Declension

Declension of жига́н (anim masc-form hard-stem accent-a/b) 

	singular	plural
nominative	жига́н žigán	жига́ны, жиганы́ žigány, žiganý
genitive	жига́на, жигана́ žigána, žiganá	жига́нов, жигано́в žigánov, žiganóv
dative	жига́ну, жигану́ žigánu, žiganú	жига́нам, жигана́м žigánam, žiganám
accusative	жига́на, жигана́ žigána, žiganá	жига́нов, жигано́в žigánov, žiganóv
instrumental	жига́ном, жигано́м žigánom, žiganóm	жига́нами, жигана́ми žigánami, žiganámi
prepositional	жига́не, жигане́ žigáne, žigané	жига́нах, жигана́х žigánax, žiganáx