May 1, 2020 02:22
4 yrs ago
33 viewers *
Russian term

кисляк

Russian to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Основной материал построек фактории — древесина. Как правило — ошкуренные брёвна, подогнанные друг к дружке при помощи единственного инструмента — топора. Сушить ошкуренные стволы полагается долго, на что далеко не всегда находится время. Да и работать со свежим материалом куда проще. Потому большую часть домов и прочих сооружений возводили из сырого леса.

Климат на севере такой же сырой, как этот материал. Потому очень скоро перед обитателями фактории встал вопрос борьбы с гнилью. Решали его традиционным способом. Дожидались засушливого периода и обрабатывали брёвна кисляком.

Discussion

The Misha May 1, 2020:
That would work too, I am sure I am all for stronger language, and everything stronger as a general case - booze, tobacco, moral decrepitude, you name it:) S pervym yummom, Boris!:)))))
Boris Shapiro May 1, 2020:
The Misha How about 'sourpiss'? The way they describe it calls for stronger language, IMHO.
The Misha May 1, 2020:
Mark, you didn't give us enough context. Booo! I googled this too and the text came right up. The way I read it, it is not even a real substance, but most likely the gentleman from Ukraine is right. It would have to be based on tar ("gudron," think railroad ties) or something equally disgusting. But that doesn't even matter. This is fiction, so who cares what they really made it of, or whether it's real or not. If I were to get my evil way with this text:))) I'd call it sourpuss, thus giving this legitimate English term a new lease on life:)))) I say it fits right in.
Boris Shapiro May 1, 2020:
Никогда не слышал, чтобы древесину обрабатывали молоком. А уж вином - тем более LOL. Зато простой гуглёж контекста (https://author.today/reader/59607/496376) показывает, что это, видимо, и впрямь что-нибудь вроде древесного креозота.
Pavlo Astashonok May 1, 2020:
Quite puzzling Я и по-русски теряюсь в догадках что такое кисляк. Надо бы сначала определиться дефиницию source-слова, а потом уже и переводить

Proposed translations

+2
8 hrs
Selected

sourpiss

As per our friend The's suggestion, the exact nature of this arcane concoction is entirely immaterial. Therefore, gentlemen, I present you-- sourpiss, the illegitimate love-child of mother Nature and Sibirsky muzhyk's rugged ingenuity.

Though its origins and chemical composition are shrouded in mystery, the apparently endearing appellation speaks volumes of the aforementioned muzhyks' undiluted love for this gunk (calling it кисляк implies someone must've tasted it!)
Peer comment(s):

agree The Misha : Hehe:)
2 hrs
Hehe indeed. Thanks for the inspiration!
agree Anton Ievlev : Hats off :)
4 hrs
Gramercy, Anton!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Apologies for not giving you gentlemen sufficient context, but then you went ahead and figured it out anyway. Being a technical ignoramus, I had assumed this was some obscure unofficial term instead of the author's own concoction. Going with Boris' suggestion here."
-1
2 hrs

Sour milk / Wine

Прокисшее молоко sour(ed) milk
or the second meaning is wine

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2020-05-01 05:17:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think it is likely about soured milk as they use this for logs.
Peer comment(s):

disagree The Misha : One wonders where they would get all that wine in the North and what the benefits of soaking wood in sour milk would be, even if enough of that was available.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

wood tar/tar oil

I found the source and read a bit. It says:
"При этом жидкость разделяется на несколько слоёв. Верхний — та самая, похожая на тёмное масло. В глубине скапливается тяжёлая фракция, смолисто-чёрная и слегка вязкая, будто не слишком густой кисель. Именно этой липкой субстанцией обрабатывают нижние венцы деревянных построек"

From what I've read it feels like that it is some kind of wood tar. The literally meaning of "кисляк" is "sour stuff". Hope that helps.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2020-05-01 05:43:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

About tar oil and wooden houses:
https://www.solventfreepaint.com/pine-tar.htm
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search