Phraseologism "muslin young lady" is less and less common in the lexicon of Russians. But even 200 years ago, this catch phrase was incredibly popular and characterized a certain category of young people. This was the name of young noblewomen who were interested exclusively in social events and fashion.
The origin of the winged expression
The phrase "muslin young lady" appeared in the Russian language in the second half of the 19th century. It originated from the name of an expensive and very light fabric - muslin. In gaseous fabrics, the threads do not adhere tightly to each other, there are gaps between them, which will give them a special airiness and transparency. Gauze belongs to the same group of materials, but unlike muslin, it is simpler and cheaper. Kiseya is very popular in the East, where a hot climate reigns, it shades the room and lets air in. Draperies and curtains made of this fabric add mystery and exoticism to the room. Even today, muslin is used to decorate windows; fabrics from India, China, Turkey and Italy are especially popular.
In the old days, muslin was widely used to create women's clothing. Ladies' toilets made of this fabric were preferred by Russian young noblewomen, who were called "young ladies". The girls tried to follow all the latest fashion trends and look exquisite. Kiseya was especially suited to young girls, older ladies preferred denser fabrics. Suffice it to recall the white dress decorated with a satin bow and intended for the ball, about which Ekaterina Sushkova, the lady of the heart of the young Mikhail Lermontov, writes. The "apple-green dress" of the main heroine of the novel "Gone with the Wind" was sewn from tarlatan - a variety of muslin. Particularly popular were subtle fabrics of fashionable pale shades, for which even names were difficult to come up with, - Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol ironically remarked in the poem "Dead Souls".
Use in literature
The phrase "muslin girl" is mentioned for the first time in the literary work of Nikolai Pomyalovsky. The heroine of the story "Bourgeois Happiness" (1861) Lizaveta Arkadyevna addresses her indignation to the young noblewoman Lenochka, who grew up in the provinces. The landowner talks about how sorry she is to look at such girls, how she is surprised by their "amazing underdevelopment and emptiness!.." The expression "muslin girl" became the personification of not too beautiful, intelligent people, light, but not capable of strong feelings. Their noble origins and vulnerable nature did not allow them to do household chores. They did not work, did not study, dreamed of gifts and waited for a successful marriage. About "muslin creatures" Pomyalovsky wrote that they "always dream, always play …".
The phrase quickly entered the literature. It was popularized by the critic Dmitry Pisarev, whose pen was the "Novel of a muslin girl" (1865) - a review of the work of Pomyalovsky. The publicist published it in the "Russian Word" edition. And after Nikolai Shelgunov's essay "Women's idleness" was published, the phraseological phrase "muslin lady" appeared in the works of many writers, poets and publicists. The author of the novel "Egyptian Darkness" (1888) Vsevolod Krestovsky put the concept of "muslin rubbish" into the lips of his own heroes. Later, the term "muslin" appeared in his works, in order for the heroine to win the respect of decent people, they were advised to get rid of her. Phraseologism is present in The Islanders (1866) by Nikolai Leskov and The Nihilist (1884) by Sophia Kovalevskaya. The "kitty ladies" are mentioned by Pyotr Boborykin in Decay (1884) and Alexander Kuprin in Moloch (1896).
Interpretation of phraseological units
In the Explanatory Dictionary of Vladimir Dahl (1881) phraseological unit is absent, but in it you can find the word "muslin". The famous lexicographer describes her as a "dandy."The phrase "muslin young lady" did not become forgotten even during Soviet history. In the dictionary edited by Ushakov (1935), its meaning sounds like this: "cutesy, limited girl", brought up according to patriarchal rules. Sergei Ozhegov (1949) supplements the definition of such a young person with the "outlook of a philistine."
Many, having heard this phraseological unit, mistakenly understood it as a "jelly lady". One of these curious cases is described in the popular book for children by Eduard Uspensky "Uncle Fyodor, the dog and the cat."
What to do with the "Turgenev girl"
Many see common features in these two expressions. The main thing that unites them is the refinement of nature. The heroines of Turgenev are young ladies who grew up in remote estates, on which the pernicious influence of the city did not appear. They are pure, humble and educated. Such girls fall in love, and then faithfully and faithfully follow their ideal all their lives. They have great moral strength and overcome obstacles. This is exactly what the "muslin ladies" lack, who are artificial in pursuit of fashion and who have lost their originality.
In Soviet times
The phraseological phrase "muslin young lady" was reflected in a certain social environment in the new Soviet era. In the article by Butkevich, "In a women's school," the primary goals of a women's educational institution were discussed: to educate a brave, hardworking patriot, and not "to make Soviet girls muslin young ladies."
By the 60s, there was a steady opinion that the term "muslin young lady" expresses the contempt of progressive Soviet youth towards "superficial and undeveloped women." The phraseological phrase caustically and ironically characterized the female type, which was nurtured by the noble culture. But gradually the bright colors of the phraseological unit began to fade and lose their expressiveness.
Modern "muslin ladies"
Today it is impossible to meet a girl who has received a classical noble upbringing. And muslin outfits are not common. Therefore, the expression "muslin lady" has lost its original meaning. Phraseologism is present in the modern lexicon, although it has acquired a completely different connotation. So, for example, if a male representative whines and gives vent to tears, then he is told that he behaves "like a girl" or "limp like a muslin girl." Even children know that a man should be collected, and tears do not suit him.
In modern society, glamorous beauties have replaced noble and bourgeois women. There are many blondes among them, so the expression "muslin ladies" refers primarily to them. It is generally accepted that blondes are not just owners of a certain hair color, but a characteristic state of mind. For such girls, the main thing is their own beauty, in this they see their vocation. And it doesn't matter that someone else will contain this beauty. Being insufficiently educated, they know little and are not very interested in anything, moreover, they show an absolute inability to adapt to life situations. However, there are successful and smart women among the owners of light hair color, but folklore has long made blondes heroines of jokes and called them "muslin ladies."
Often a capricious girl or a young man who whines and expresses dissatisfaction is often called a "muslin lady". He constantly complains about minor, often far-fetched problems and discomfort. Sometimes this expression is called a pampered person who is afraid of any difficulties. For example, such a weak-willed and unbalanced person seems cold even in a warm room.
Also, the phraseological unit characterizes the unworthy behavior of a person in various situations. An example would be a student who begs for an overestimate of his knowledge, and does so in front of his comrades. Some footballers, getting a penalty kick, try to influence the referee using acting skills. The phrase "Oh, you are a muslin girl!" sounds especially offensive if it is addressed to a man.
In our time, the expression began to be used less often, but did not turn into archaism. After all, the language is not updated as quickly as car models and electronic devices. This means that the catch phrase will have a longer life than the novelties of technical thought. Having come from pre-revolutionary life, it has survived in the Russian language, although it acquired new colors. Phraseologism is not only found in everyday communication, but is also readily used by modern writers.
