Competition No 3789
Set by Gavin Ross on 7 July
The Russian word vokzal, meaning station, is said to derive from the 1830s, when the tsar, shown around Vauxhall station on a state visit, took the name to be generic. We asked for new Russian words with definitions arising from Putin's recent visit.
Report by Ms de Meaner
What fun you had. Some clever dicks clearly weren't too sure what we'd asked for and sent in new combination words, the best of which was "Chichinwak: a frank discussion of measures to be taken against terrorism, from a confusion of Chechen and chinwag". We just wanted simple misunderstandings. The singletons get a fiver, the twosomes and threesomes a tenner, and the rest can have £15. The overall winner, who also receives the Tesco vouchers, is Bill Greenwell.
Dossiye. A work of fiction.
Orlova. Populist festival in which the masses are permitted to run on to the field of play in the middle of important sporting events.
David Silverman
Dodzhi-Dossyay. Any government information publication.
Konneks. A very slow train.
Yuro-Skeptnik. An enthusiast for medieval weights and measures.
Ian Birchall
Korgi. Dog.
Arpyorzmayt. Greeting.
Kharipota. Queue.
Otu. Mobile phone.
Geztovona. President.
Anne Du Croz
Doma. Empty building.
Gervase MacGregor
Chekin. Airport official.
Farkhov. Go away!
Krikit. Bars, tents and betting shops around an open field. A place for public assembly in rainy weather.
Mzdimina. A popular competition editor; by extension any popular figure.
Zandrigam. Family-sized luxury dacha.
Kambul. Licensed rogue, a professional liar, a fixer and enforcer.
Kovengahdn. Shopping mall.
Gerard Benson
Arodz. Department stores.
R J Pickles
Kamila. Courtesan; mystery woman; adventuress.
Azylumzika. Parasite; criminal subverter of national values.
Pozhanbekz. Principal gods in the British pantheon, widely venerated for their magical power to attract wealth.
Bolokz. Formal expression of disagreement.
Relltrek. A demolition company.
Basil Ransome-Davies
Zvenyoran. 1) Foreign saboteur; 2) Messiah; 3) Playboy.
Bygishu. Porn magazine sold on the streets.
G M Davis
Popova. A neighbourly invitation.
Pushova. A dead cert.
Popov. To expire suddenly.
Watson Weeks
Preskotya. A confusing outline of government policy.
Premya. Tsar, emperor or absolute monarch.
Nykidchev. Popular English cuisine.
Bill Greenwell
No 3792 Set by Ian Birchall
Jo Moore (of "a good day to bury the bad news" fame) is retraining as a primary school teacher. How would she tell a class of six-year-olds that their end-of-term outing had been cancelled?
Max 200 words by 8 August
(to appear in the issue dated 18 August).
E-mail: comp@newstatesman.co.uk
