Etymology

matryoshka

ma·try·osh·ka
M3A1T1R1Y4O1S1H4K5A1

Today it means: One of a set of wooden Russian dolls of different sizes, designed such that each fits inside the next. Full definition →

First used 20th c.Russian матрёшка ← Latin mātrōna
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The story

  1. Latin · derived frommātrōna“matron”
  2. Russian · borrowed fromматрёшка
  3. English todaymatryoshka

From Russian матрёшка (matrjóška), from personal name Матрёна (Matrjóna), formerly Матрона (Matrona), ultimately from Latin mātrōna (“matron”).

Words from the same roots

Latinmātrōna all →

matronmatrona

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. One of a set of wooden Russian dolls of different sizes, designed such that each fits inside the next.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.