For research, we take the expression that we often use in speech, we understand its meaning, but hardly anyone knows where it came from. Unless a person specifically asked such a question or he is not a specialist in the field of linguistics.
"Silent glanders." The value of phraseology in Russian
When we want to say about someone that he is sneaking, quietly penetrating somewhere, doing work slowly, but persistently, we use the phrase "acts with a silent glanders" in speech.
Most often, a stable combination is used when a person is given a negative characteristic, indicates his tendency to actions that are undesirable for others. But, despite this, he commits them quietly, against the will of other people.
So what kind of glanders are we talking about in phraseological units? And why is she quiet? We will try to find answers to the questions posed by referring to the information available in different sources.
Meaning of the word glanders
In the Russian language there are several meanings of the word "glanders."
Firstly, this is the name of the fish of the genus Chebakov. In German, a similar word means carp.
Secondly, in French, "glanders" means a hoe, a pickaxe - a tool for earthworks.
The third meaning of the word came from Italian to French, and then to Russian. And it is closely related to the second meaning. Sapa is called a trench or a trench. The word has taken root in military terminology. And this is by no means accidental. The word owes its birth to soldiers who besieged medieval castles. They were the first to use quiet glanders to get into the enemy’s fortress.
In some areas, glanders are called snakes. This is the fourth meaning of the word.
What explanation to choose?
From the four suggested meanings of the word “glanders, ” you need to choose the one that most closely matches the meaning of the stable combination “silent glanders.”
At first glance, it may seem that the name of a fish or a snake is very suitable. After all, they are able to move silently, lead a way of life hidden from the eyes of a person.
But studies conducted by linguists have proven that the expression “silent glanders” has nothing to do with these meanings, but is directly related to the second and third.
History reference
In military practice of the 16th – 19th centuries, a special method was used for laying tunnels, trenches, and excavations. It was called "silent glanders." Cross over glanders - another name for the same type of engineering structures. I must say that the cross over (quiet) glanders were used during the Great Patriotic War.
Work silent glanders conducted secretly from the enemy, without access to the surface. The work was very difficult, but its result was the battle won due to the fact that the tunnel could secretly penetrate the rear of the enemy or destroy its fortifications.
After the invention of gunpowder, silent glanders were used to lay bombs under the foundations of buildings or some other structures. Silent glanders began to deal with special people who were called sappers.
In addition to silent glanders, military engineers used flying glanders. The trench rummaged on the surface, but under cover from the enemy. It was installed in advance and constructed from bags of earth, barrels and other improvised means.
If a large number of soldiers were used to dig tunnels, then the work was painstaking, but not so exhausting. The final result could be obtained pretty quickly.
A small group of silent or flying glanders did slowly, passing the same area several times.
The decision to use quiet glanders by military commanders was rarely made because of the complexity of the work. It was used only in cases where there was no other way to break the enemy’s resistance.
