Russ

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A term used to refer to a male student in some European schools, especially during traditional initiation events ; a name for a person from Russia ; a surname found in various cultures with different familial origins
2. An informal designation for male undergraduates participating in ceremonial rites ; an ethnonym identifying individuals from the nation known for its vast territory across Eurasia ; a family name appearing in diverse genealogical records and histories
3. A label for young men involved in specific academic festivities ; a descriptor for people originating from the large Eastern European country ; a last name borne by families of various ethnic backgrounds and ancestral lines

Etymology: "Russ" is a short form of "Russell," a name that has long been used as a given name and nickname. The "Russell" it comes from is itself a surname, probably from Old French "rousel," meaning reddish-haired. So this word for a person from Russia is, at its root, a pet form of a name that has nothing to do with Russia. The Russia sense comes from a different source. It traces to Old East Slavic "Русь" (Rusĭ), the name for the people and early state centred on Kyiv and Novgorod, which gave rise to the modern Russian country. German took up the name as "Russe" for the people, and English later borrowed that German form. Modern Russian uses "Rus'" for the same early Slavic polity, so the two senses of the name now sit side by side in English.

Synonyms: Russ, Russell, Russian