What is filonite? The meaning of the word in various dictionaries is explained in approximately the same way: to mess around, skip, take time off from work. But regarding the origin of this term, linguists have not yet come to a consensus. Someone believes that the word came from popular dialects. Other linguists are inclined to attribute it to criminal jargon, while others to vernacular, born during the years of Soviet atheist propaganda. Of the many versions, it is difficult to single out the only true one. Therefore, we will voice only the most common variants of the origin of the word “filonite” and supplement them with our own thoughts.
French jargon
The explanatory dictionaries indicate the relationship of this verb with the French noun pilon, denoting a beggar, a tramp, a beggar. But most modern linguists disagree with this interpretation. Experts in the field of Russian literature question the possibility of turning the French "beggar" into a Russian "lazy person".
There is also a version that the word formed from le filon (gold mine, a successful business, a favorable position) is present in the slang of the French army. To settle down in a “warm place”, to do light work, to swing away from drill training - this is what it means to filon in soldier jargon. It can be safely said that these interpretations are very close in meaning. But this interpretation has not received official confirmation.
Lover lying in bed
The doctor of philological sciences I. G. Dobrodomov in his monograph “Problems of etymology in normative lexicography” tends to the version that the meaning of the word “philate” is synonymous with the phrase “lie on the blind.” Obviously, this explanation does not contradict the meaning of the verb: rest, do nothing. But where does the wooden flooring arranged in peasant huts intended for sleep and rest?
Everything is quite simple, although a bit confusing. Professor Dobrodomov believes that in some dialects, in particular, on the slang of Kostroma and Puchezh artisans, the word “polati” was pronounced “filati”. Then a chain of transformations took place: filati - filoni - filon. From here filonit is to wallow in bed, to roll away from work. As often happens, over time the word became common and firmly established in the Russian language. And lazybones and loungers are now called a philo.
Lavish Robe of the Clergy
Some scholars have suggested that the word “filonite” might have come from the name of vestments of clergy. A felon is a long cape with a slit for the head, but without sleeves.
It is inconvenient to work in such an outfit; hands are hidden under a cloth panel like a swaddled baby. The man who was in no hurry to join the joint work was told: “What are you standing as if dressed in a felon?” Over time, the mocking expression was transformed into a short, but capacious word “filon”.
This explanation does not exclude another option that echoes the previous one. It is known that during the years of Soviet power, a policy of alienating the people from religious beliefs was carried out. Everything related to the church was criticized and ridiculed. Perhaps the clergyman, dressed in a felon, on leaflets and posters was portrayed as an antihero, personifying an idler, a loafer, a parasite. So the people got an association: whoever is in felony is phylonite.
Abbreviation of thieves' jargon
In the 1920s, in the area of the Solovetsky Islands, on the site of a former monastery prison, the Northern Special Purpose Camp was formed. He added to the number of several closed zones for criminals and political prisoners that previously existed in the Arkhangelsk province. People convicted of certain crimes referred to Solovki, where they were assigned to hard work on logging and processing lumber.
Probably, prisoners who seriously undermined their health at the logging were transferred to easier labor. Some prisoners tried to achieve such a transfer, intentionally inflicting physical injuries on themselves. Someone found other ways to straighten out documents about their temporary or permanent disability. Therefore, a half-humorous decoding by initial letters appeared: filon is a fictitious disabled person of special purpose camps.
This fact does not explain the origin of the verb “filonit” in any way. The etymology of the word remains unclear. But since it was widely used in thieves' jargon, in all likelihood, the term was known long before the advent of the Soviet Northern camps. And today you can hear the cognate slang word “filka” for the verb “filonit”. Why so-called money is a big question.
Variations on the Theft of Argo
Based on the version that the word “filonit” was born in a criminal environment, let us put forward our assumptions regarding its occurrence. In the dictionary of Gallicisms there is the verb “filte”, formed from the French filer, which means to follow, track. It is possible that filonit is to stand on a stir during gang raids or thieves sorties. Consequently, a person called a philo did not directly participate in the main actions, and his contribution to the common cause was considered insignificant.
You can recall the meaning of concepts such as philosophy - any wisdom or philanthropy - humanity. They are based on the word "love" or "addiction" from the Greek φιλέω. In all likelihood, the term “philo” could mean amateur, that is, amateur or layman. In relation to criminal jargon, a novice thief who has not shown himself to be anything. Accordingly, such a loitering serious business was not trusted. Filonit is to carry out some assignment superficially, to work not at full strength.
Male name of Greek origin
Perhaps everything is much simpler, and the verb “filonite” was formed on behalf of Philo, meaning “enjoying love”? It is not at all necessary that the ancient philosophers, mathematicians, healers and bishops who bore this name disdained labor. Rather, it was exactly the opposite.
But imagine a situation that someone (a pet) was called one of the members of a large peasant family. It could be a younger child or, for example, a good grandfather, a relative with poor health. The proper name here turns into a common nickname.
Naturally, much was forgiven to the universal favorite, he was freed from work in the field and in the household. If someone from the household had the possibility of an unplanned vacation, they said that he was a phylon. In the sense that a person was temporarily unable to work, for example, due to illness or due to other circumstances. Still, filonite is not to be a lazy person in life, but just to evade the performance of some duties for objective reasons or of one's own free will.