For many centuries, folk wisdom has been passed down from generation to generation with the help of proverbs and sayings. And although today this part of Russian folklore has lost its former popularity, it is not completely forgotten. It often happens that using any established expression, we do not even suspect that they are proverbs. However, many proverbs and sayings have come to us modified: some of them have lost their ending. This fate befell the continuation of the proverb "two boots of steam." Let's recall how it sounded in its original form, and also see if this fact affected the meaning that was put into the saying by our ancestors.
Origin of the proverb
First of all, it should be noted that this proverb is not entirely Russian in origin. The word "couple" in it comes from the Latin par, meaning "equal." Knowing this fact, one can also guess the meaning of the saying.
Linguists express two versions of the origin of phraseology. According to the first version, this phrase appeared from the professional activities of shoemakers. Previously, shoes on both the right and left foot were sewn exactly the same, without any differences (so boots are still sewn). Hence the expression "two boots of steam."
According to another option, this phraseology owes its origin to the girls who were preparing the dowry. Previously, in the "estate" of the bride, there must have been a pair of boots made by the girl herself. And since boots were also considered boots in Russia (V.I. Dahl defines boots as boots or shoes made of wool), this gives rise to the second version of the origin of the saying “two pair boots”.
How does a proverb end?
There are many versions. Some on the Web say that there are several sequels to the proverb “two boots - a pair”. The most common option is “both left”, as well as its modifications (“both are put on the left foot” and so on). More inquisitive users found a version of the proverb in which the beginning was trimmed: "Goose and loon - two boots of steam" (there is a version of "sandpiper and loon"). There is even a version of “two boots - felt boots”, however, all this information is erroneous.
The true continuation of the proverb “two boots of steam”
The Internet as a source of information is a wonderful thing, though it does have one significant drawback. Information that is posted on the World Wide Web is not always true. So it happened with the continuation of the proverb "two boots of steam."
If you turn to the most famous collector of Russian folklore - Vladimir Ivanovich Dahl, to look out of interest in his book "Proverbs and sayings of the Russian people", then you can find a lot of interesting things. So, for example, the end of popular wisdom: “The chicken is pecking”, according to recent lists of “complete” sayings and proverbs that have been spread recently, are the words “yes, the whole yard is in the litter”. However, in the dictionary V.I. Dahl is given a completely different ending. In fact, the full version of this popular aphorism sounds completely different: "A chicken pecking a grain, but well fed."
And the phrase: “Whoever remembers the old, that eye is over”, in contrast to modern lists, there is no continuation at all. This is the full version of the saying. True, there is still a version of the proverb that sounds: "Whoever remembers the old, the devil will pull him to death."
How does the proverb “two pair boots” end? According to the collection of Russian folklore Dahl, the ending of this folk aphorism is generally absent. But the saying has a beginning that is lost in time: "The same odd odd. Two pair boots."
The meaning of the proverb "two boots of steam"
The meaning of this winged expression can be guessed if you know that in the old days boots were opposed to bast shoes. Boots used to be worn only by wealthy people and dandies who wanted to be considered wealthy. Hence the ironic coloring of the word "boots". This is confirmed by such sayings as “boots with a creak, but porridge without butter”, as well as “do not judge in bast shoes, boots in a sleigh” (says one entering the hut).
The generally accepted meaning of the proverb is two pair boots - “matching each other”. Most often, this phraseology is used with irony, indicating the similarity of people in negative qualities. This meaning is especially pronounced in the modern full version of the proverb: "Two boots of a pair, but both left."
Similarly, with the beginning of the saying: "Odd with the odd is the same odd." Sam V.I. Dahl explains the word “odd” as unpaired. And the word "even" (it is even) in the same Dahl is equivalent to the word "couple". That is, the phrase "odd and even the same odd" with the use of more understandable words will sound - "unpaired with unpaired the same pair."
