Samizdat
/ˌsæmɪzˈdæt/noun
Underground literature or other media produced and circulated clandestinely, especially in the Soviet bloc.
Did you know?The term was coined by Soviet dissident Nikolai Glazkov in the 1940s as a playful parody of official publishing labels such as Gosizdat.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sem- / *som-
“One; together; same—the ancient root behind the Russian element sam, meaning “self” or “by oneself”.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deh₃-
“To give—the root behind the Slavic verb meaning “to give” and ultimately “to publish.””
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
samŭ
“Self; oneself.”
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
izdati
“To issue or publish, literally involving the idea of giving or sending out.”
1940s
Russian
самиздат (samizdat)
“A coined blend of sam, “self,” and a shortened form related to izdatelstvo, “publishing house”; initially used humorously for self-published writing.”
20th Century
Russian/English
samizdat
“Underground, uncensored literature circulated secretly in the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries.”
Modern English
English
samizdat
“Clandestinely produced and distributed literature or media, especially material opposing official censorship.”