Etymology

Black Tulip

Today it means: Synonym of Antonov An-12 (“Soviet-era turboprop cargoplane”). Full definition →

Russian Чёрный тюльпан
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The story

  1. Russian · calque ofЧёрный тюльпан
  2. English todayBlack Tulip

black+tulip. Calque of Russian Чёрный тюльпан (Čórnyj tjulʹpan). From the use of the aircraft as a means to repatriate corpses of fallen soldiers. From the use of black tulips and other flowers to border obituaries. Originating as a nickname used by Soviet aircrews of the repatriation transport missions during the Afghan War, and popularized by Alexander Rezenbaum in a popular Soviet song, before migrating into English.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.