It is no wonder to get confused in Russian-language definitions. Some of the words were borrowed from foreign vocabulary, while others changed and / or acquired new interpretations depending on the region. What is the result? Anyone can be called pockmarked: this is a chicken from a favorite children's fairy tale, and a girl with problem skin. A colorful concept causes sincere bewilderment among young people, because it is almost impossible to get to its original meaning, relying on modern dictionaries.
Not a nick, but a wave
Philologists were guided by a common pro-Slavic root, and then compared related terms from the languages of the Slavic group. Found a lot of values:
- spotted;
- motley;
- flicker
- ruffle.
This is clearly about the visual perception of the object. You look at the zebra, try to figure out the flickering of the leaves, or observe the small waves in the barrel, “pockmarked” is a universal, taking into account derivative forms, characteristic for what you see. There is also a rejected version of the origin.
Hypothetical substitution of the letter in the root, the change of -rub- to- slab- Fasmer considered erroneous and ill-founded. He did not recognize the connection with the verb "chop." However, in parallel, within the framework of the language, there is an unusual concept. Did you know that "mountain ash" can be not only a tree? Other decoding:
- a small depression, a dent;
- a speck.
On the face and at sea
Based on the information collected, the modern meaning of the word "pockmarked" is formed. Three cozy interpretations for all occasions, even though some cause a fair amount of experience among the carriers:
- face in rash, acne, potholes, mountain ash;
- color with contrasting spots;
- covered in shallow waves.
In relation to a person, they use the first meaning. This indicates the specificity of the appearance associated with the disease or some kind of incident. Saying that this pockmarked, and that burr, is not accepted. The definition sounds the most incorrect and polite people are not used. Another thing is talking about a funny motley chicken, about an exotic animal with a spotted skin, or about the surface of a lake with a strong wind. The usual description without a hint of rudeness, albeit a rustic one.
In books and in communication
How appropriate is the expression? The dictionaries do not mention obsolescence or vernacular, but to hear a capacious epithet on the streets of the city of the 21st century is not easy. Today, "pockmarked" is a "hello" from fiction. The layman prefers the synonyms "pimple, motley." And he builds phrases about ponds in such a way as to insert the noun “ripples”. Remember for self-education will be useful!