Black Tulip

noun

Synonym of Antonov An-12 (“Soviet-era turboprop cargoplane”).

Similar
CubFlying ShedAntonov An-12
OriginRussian Чёрный тюльпан →
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Meanings

nounBlack Tulip (plural Black Tulips)

plural Black Tulips · alternative black tulip

  1. aeronauticsSynonym of Antonov An-12 (“Soviet-era turboprop cargoplane”).

    Synonyms: Cub, Flying Shed, Antonov An-12

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of Antonov An-12 (“Soviet-era turboprop cargoplane”).

Similar
CubFlying ShedAntonov An-12

Origin

  1. RussianЧёрный тюльпан
  2. EnglishBlack 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.

More words from Russian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Black Tulip. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Black%20Tulip

MLA

“Black Tulip.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Black%20Tulip. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Black Tulip,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Black%20Tulip.

Source: Black Tulip on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.