Exercise 2. Comment on the etymology of the following words. Define the approximate period of their borrowing. Balalaika, beluga, borshch, Boyar, carp, Cheka, Cossack, droshky, duma, Hetman, hopak, knout, koumiss, kulak, Kremlin, kvass, makhorka, muzhik, nihilist, pogrom, pood, rouble sable, samovar, sarafan, seech , sewruga, sputnik, steppe, sterlet, soviet, taiga, tsar, tundra, ukase, verst, vodka, voivode, zemstvo.

To answer this question, let's start by discussing the concept of etymology. Etymology is the study of the origins and historical development of words. It examines the way words have evolved, where they come from, and how they have changed over time.

Now, let's examine the etymology of each word one by one, along with the approximate period of their borrowing:

1. Balalaika: Balalaika is a musical instrument from Russia. It is believed to have been borrowed from the Russian language, possibly around the 18th century.

2. Beluga: Beluga is a type of large sturgeon found in the Caspian and Black Seas. The word comes from the Russian language and was borrowed into English in the 18th century.

3. Borshch: Borshch is a traditional soup in Eastern European cuisines. It is derived from the Russian word 'borshch', which originated in the 17th century.

4. Boyar: Boyar was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Bulgarian, Russian, and Romanian aristocracies. The term comes from the Old Slavic word 'bojьarь' and was borrowed into English in the 16th century.

5. Carp: Carp is a type of fish. The word 'carp' comes from the French 'carpe' and was borrowed into English around the 14th century.

6. Cheka: Cheka was the Soviet secret police organization during the early years of the Soviet Union. The word is an acronym for "All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage" and was in use from 1917 to 1922.

7. Cossack: Cossacks were a group of predominantly East Slavic-speaking people who inhabited the southern Russian and Ukrainian plains. The term 'Cossack' was borrowed into English in the 16th century, but its exact origins are uncertain.

8. Droshky: Droshky is a type of Russian horse-drawn carriage. The word comes from the Russian 'drozhki' and was borrowed into English in the early 19th century.

9. Duma: Duma was the legislative assembly in Russia before the Russian Revolution of 1917. The word 'duma' is derived from the Russian word 'dumat', meaning "to think", and was borrowed into English in the late 19th century.

10. Hetman: Hetman was a military and political leader in Ukraine and Poland during the 16th and 18th centuries. The word 'hetman' comes from the Polish 'hetman' and was borrowed into English in the 16th century.

11. Hopak: Hopak is a traditional Ukrainian dance. The term 'hopak' comes from the Ukrainian word 'hopaty', meaning "to jump" and was borrowed into English in the 19th century.

12. Knout: Knout was a Russian whip used for corporal punishment. The word comes from the Russian 'knut' and was borrowed into English in the early 19th century.

13. Koumiss: Koumiss is a traditional fermented dairy drink. The word comes from the Turkic 'kımız' and was borrowed into English in the 17th century.

14. Kulak: Kulak was a term used in the Soviet Union to describe wealthy, independent farmers. The word 'kulak' comes from the Russian word for "fist" and was in use during the early 20th century.

15. Kremlin: Kremlin refers to the fortified central complex found in historical Russian cities. The word 'kremlin' comes from the Russian 'kreml', meaning "castle" or "fortress", and was borrowed into English in the late 16th century.

16. Kvass: Kvass is a traditional Russian fermented beverage made from rye bread. The word 'kvass' comes from the Old East Slavic 'kvasъ' and was borrowed into English in the 16th century.

17. Makhorka: Makhorka is a type of low-quality tobacco. The word comes from the Russian 'makhorka' and was borrowed into English in the 19th century.

18. Muzhik: Muzhik is a Russian term for a rural laborer or peasant. The word 'muzhik' comes from the Russian 'muzh', meaning "man", and was in use from the late 17th century.

19. Nihilist: Nihilist refers to a person who rejects or denies the existence of established values and institutions. The word 'nihilist' comes from the Latin 'nihil', meaning "nothing", and was borrowed into English in the mid-19th century.

20. Pogrom: Pogrom refers to organized violence against certain ethnic or religious groups. The word 'pogrom' comes from the Russian 'pogromit', meaning "to destroy" and was borrowed into English in the late 19th century.

21. Pood: Pood is an old Russian unit of weight. The word comes from the Russian 'pud' and was borrowed into English in the 17th century.

22. Rouble: Rouble is the currency of Russia. The word 'rouble' comes from the Russian 'rubl' and was borrowed into English in the late 16th century.

23. Sable: Sable is a small, carnivorous mammal found in Siberia. The word 'sable' comes from the Middle English 'sabel' and was borrowed into English in the 14th century.

24. Samovar: Samovar is a traditional Russian metal container used to heat and serve hot water. The word 'samovar' comes from the Russian 'samovar', meaning "self-boiler", and was borrowed into English in the early 19th century.

25. Sarafan: Sarafan is a traditional Russian dress worn by women. The word 'sarafan' comes from the Russian 'sarafan', which in turn derived from the Persian 'sarapa', meaning "head-covering" or "shawl", and was borrowed into English in the 19th century.

26. Seech: The term 'seech' does not have clear etymological information or widely recognized usage. It is possible that it may be a misspelling or a regional dialect word. Without further information, it is difficult to provide an accurate etymology or period of borrowing.

27. Sewruga: Sewruga does not have recognized usage or clear etymological information. It is possible that it may be a misspelling or a less common variant of a word. Without further information, it is difficult to provide an accurate etymology or period of borrowing.

28. Sputnik: Sputnik refers to a series of Soviet artificial satellites. The word 'sputnik' comes from the Russian 'sputnik', meaning "companion" or "traveling companion", and was borrowed into English in the mid-20th century.

29. Steppe: Steppe refers to a vast grassland found in Eurasia. The word 'steppe' comes from the Russian 'stepь' and was borrowed into English in the late 16th century.

30. Sterlet: Sterlet is a type of small sturgeon found in the Caspian and Black Seas. The word 'sterlet' comes from the Dutch 'sterlet' and was borrowed into English in the late 16th century.

31. Soviet: Soviet refers to the governing council in the former Soviet Union. The word 'soviet' comes from the Russian 'soviet', meaning "council" or "assembly", and was borrowed into English in the early 20th century.

32. Taiga: Taiga refers to the vast subarctic forest found in northern regions, especially in Russia and Canada. The word 'taiga' comes from the Russian 'taiga', and was borrowed into English in the early 20th century.

33. Tsar: Tsar refers to the title used for the rulers of Russia before the Russian Revolution. The word 'tsar' comes from the Old Slavic 'tsěsare', which in turn derived from the Latin 'caesar', and was borrowed into English in the late 16th century.

34. Tundra: Tundra refers to a cold, treeless plain found in Arctic regions. The word 'tundra' comes from the Finnish 'tunturia', meaning "treeless plain", and was borrowed into English in the early 20th century.

35. Ukase: Ukase refers to a former Russian imperial decree or edict. The word 'ukase' comes from the Russian 'ukaz', meaning "order" or "command", and was borrowed into English in the 17th century.

36. Verst: Verst is a Russian unit of distance. The word comes from the Russian 'versta' and was borrowed into English in the 17th century.

37. Vodka: Vodka is a clear alcoholic beverage, traditionally from Russia and Eastern Europe. The word 'vodka' comes from the Russian 'vodka', meaning "little water" or "water of life", and was borrowed into English in the late 18th century.

38. Voivode: Voivode refers to a military leader in Eastern European countries. The word 'voivode' comes from the Polish 'wojewoda' and was borrowed into English in the 17th century.

39. Zemstvo: Zemstvo was a local self-government institution in Tsarist Russia. The word 'zemstvo' comes from the Russian 'zemstvo', meaning "local government", and was borrowed into English in the 19th century.

In conclusion, the etymology of these words reveals a rich linguistic history, with borrowings from various languages and periods. Understanding the etymology of words helps us trace their origins and better appreciate the cultural and historical context in which they emerged.