Kick, kick, kick, kick - these cognate words are often used in youth slang. But what do they stand for? Does the word "high" have a share of vulgarity, or is its use quite appropriate, for example, in fiction? Before answering these questions, it is necessary to delve into history. Let's look at the meaning of the word "high": what it is and what it is "eat" with.
What is a kif? First mention in the Qur'an
It is generally accepted that the word "kaif" is a neologism that came into Russian speech from the English language. However, it is not. The first mention of this word is found in the Holy Quran: the righteous, getting into paradise, were constantly in a joyful and carefree state, which is called كايف (kaif). In Arabic scripture, the concept of qeif means the highest pleasure, happiness, pleasure.
Use in literature
In Russia, the first use of the word "keyf" was recorded in 1821. OrientalistO. I. Senkovsky told Russian society about his travels in Egypt:
Travelers who have been to the East know how complex the expression keyf is. Having driven away all worries and thoughts, lounging casually, drinking coffee and smoking tobacco is called "making a key". In translation, this could be called "enjoy peace of mind."
After several decades, a new word began to appear in the works of great Russian writers:
- "…the bulldog sat in the middle of the room and lazily enjoyed his afternoon buff." F. M. Dostoevsky.
- "When I get high on the couch…". A. P. Chekhov.
New peak of popularity
For a long time the word "keyf" was considered obsolete, but it gained new popularity in 1957. At that time, the World Youth Festival was held in Moscow, thanks to which the Russians got new bourgeois words, including "high".
Unlike Russia, in America the popularity of this concept remained at its best, because Muscovites adopted the experience with a share of the American accent.
Dictionary interpretation
High is a general term for any pleasant emotion.
High is a description of an action or object (source of high) that can hypothetically bring pleasure or gives it at the moment.
To get high is to experience pleasure from the source of high.
It's all about the endorphins
We can get high or get high thanks to the ability of the brain to produce endorphins, the so-called "happiness hormones". To obtain pleasant emotions, an external influence on one or more sense organs is necessary:
- olfactory (sensation of pleasant aromas);
- gustatory (eating delicious food);
- tactile (having sex, petting, massage);
- auditory (sounds of nature or sea waves, birdsong, favorite music);
- visual (beautiful landscapes, the face of a loved one).
In other words, a high is everything that has a beneficial effect on the senses.
Deceivers of their own minds
As in modern computer games there are cheaters (those who fraudulently try to get a game victory), so in life there are people who resort to getting high in an unnatural way. We are talking about drug addicts.
In jargon slang, the word "high" refers to an altered consciousness due to the use of illegal drugs. Synthetic substances contribute to the uncontrolled production of endorphins. The body quickly gets used to the feeling of pleasure, therefore each time it requires an additional dose of the drug.
Most often, drug addicts do not understand that from such a buzz they will say goodbye not only to he alth, but also to life. Playing with death is not worth the attention of any sane person, because there are a huge number of safesources of pleasure that will not only not harm your he alth, but will also cheer you up for the whole day.
Scientists' findings
Recently, scientists conducted an unusual study and came to interesting conclusions. It turns out that those who bring pleasure to others can also experience a feeling of high.
Thus, a man who gave a lady a few pleasant compliments or flowers experiences visual pleasure at the sight of a happy woman. And vice versa: a wife who feeds a hungry husband enjoys if the man thanks her for a delicious dinner.
