What is filonit? The meaning of the word in various dictionaries is explained in approximately the same way: to mess around, to play truant, to shirk work. But regarding the origin of this term, linguists have not yet come to a consensus. Someone believes that the word came from folk dialects. Other linguists tend to attribute it to criminal jargon, others to the vernacular that was born during the years of Soviet atheistic propaganda. Of the many versions, it is difficult to single out the only correct one. Therefore, we will voice only the most common variants of the origin of the word "filony" and supplement them with our own reflections.
French jargon
Explanatory dictionaries indicate the relationship of this verb with the French noun pilon, denoting a beggar, a vagabond, a beggar. But most modern linguists do not agree with this interpretation. Experts in the field of Russian literature question the possibility of turning the French "beggar" into the Russian "lazy".
There is also a version that the word, formed from le filon (gold mine, good deal, advantageous position), is present in the slang of the French army. To settle down in a "warm place", to do light work, to shirk drill training - that's what it means to idle in the soldier's jargon. We can safely say that these interpretations are very close in meaning. But this interpretation has not received official confirmation.
Lover in bed
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 "filonyt" is synonymous with the phrase "lying on the floor". Obviously, this explanation does not contradict the semantic load inherent in the verb: to rest, to do nothing. But where does the wooden flooring, arranged in peasant huts, intended for sleeping and relaxing, have to do with it?
It's pretty simple, if a bit confusing. Professor Dobrodomov believes that in some dialects, in particular, in the slang of Kostroma and Puchezh artisans, the word "polati" was pronounced as "filati". Then a chain of transformations took place: filati - filoni - filones. From here, idling is lying in bed, shirking work. As often happens, over time, the word became common and firmly established in the Russian language. A philon is now called a lazy and couch potato.
Luxurious attire of the clergy
Some researchers believe that the word "filony" couldcome from the name of the vestments of the clergy. The phelonion is a long cape with a slit for the head, but without sleeves.
Working in such an outfit is inconvenient, hands are hidden under a fabric panel like a swaddled baby. To a person who was in no hurry to join the joint work, they said: “Why are you standing, as if dressed in a phelonion?” Over time, the derisive expression was transformed into a short but capacious word "filony".
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 pursued. Everything that was connected with the church was criticized and ridiculed. Perhaps the clergyman, dressed in a phelonion, was depicted on leaflets and posters as an anti-hero, personifying a loafer, a loafer, a parasite. So the association was entrenched among the people: whoever wears a felon is a phylonite.
Abbreviation of thug jargon
In the 1920s, in the area of the Solovetsky Islands, the Northern Special Purpose Camp was formed on the site of the former monastery prison. He replenished the number of previously existing closed zones for criminals and political prisoners in the Arkhangelsk province. Convicted for certain crimes, people referred to Solovki, where they were assigned to hard work in logging and processing lumber.
Probably, prisoners who seriously undermined their he alth at the logging site were transferred to easier work. Individual prisoners attempted to achieve such a transfer by deliberately injuring themselves. Someone found other ways to straighten out documents about their temporary or permanent disability. Therefore, a half-joking decoding of the initial letters appeared: phylon is a fictitious invalid of the special purpose camps.
This fact does not explain the origin of the verb "filony". The etymology of the word remains unclear. But since it was widely used in criminal jargon, in all likelihood, the term was known long before the appearance of the Soviet Northern camps. And today you can hear the slang word “filki” with the same root to the verb “filony”. Why money is called that is a big question.
Variations on thieves' slang
Based on the version that the word "filonit" was born in a criminal environment, let's put forward our own assumptions about its origin. In the dictionary of Gallicisms, the verb "fillet" is found, derived from the French filer, which means to follow, track down. It is quite possible that filonit is to stand on the lookout during bandit raids or thieves' outings. Consequently, a person called a philon did not take a direct part in the main actions, and his contribution to the common cause was considered insignificant.
One can also recall the meaning of such concepts as philosophy - wisdom or philanthropy - philanthropy. They are based on the word "love" or "addiction" from the Greek φιλέω. In all likelihood, under the definition of "phylo"could mean an amateur, that is, an amateur or non-professional. In relation to criminal jargon - a novice thief who has not shown himself in any way. Accordingly, such an idler was not trusted with a serious matter. Phylony - this is to carry out some task superficially, to work not at full strength.
Male name of Greek origin
Perhaps everything is much simpler, and the verb "filon" was formed from the name of Philo, meaning "loved"? It is not at all necessary that the ancient philosophers, mathematicians, healers and bishops who bore this name were dismissive of work. Rather, it was exactly the opposite.
But let's imagine a situation that a member of a large peasant family was called a philon (that is, a pet). It could be a younger child or, for example, a kind grandfather, a relative in poor he alth. A proper name here turns into a common nickname.
It is natural that much was forgiven for everyone's favorite, he was released from work in the field and housework. If someone from the household had the opportunity for an unplanned vacation, they said that he was philonite. In the sense that a person was temporarily unable to work, for example, due to illness or due to other circumstances. After all, to idle is not to be lazy in life, but only to evade the fulfillment of some duties for objective reasons or of one's own free will.
