Duma
/ˈduːmə/noun
A representative legislative council, especially the former national parliament of the Russian Empire or the lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly.
Did you know?Russian дума originally meant “thought” or “opinion” before becoming associated with a council and eventually a formal parliament.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Slavic
Proto-Slavic
*duma
“Thought, reflection, opinion, or counsel”
Old Russian
Old Russian
дума (duma)
“Thought, opinion, or deliberation”
15th–17th Century
Russian
дума (duma)
“A council of advisers or deliberative assembly”
Early 20th Century
Russian
Государственная дума (Gosudarstvennaya Duma)
“The State Duma, established as Russia’s elected legislative chamber in 1906”
20th Century
English
duma
“A Russian legislative assembly or parliament”
Modern English
English
Duma
“The lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly, or historically the Russian imperial parliament”