Joe, Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:48:47 -0800: > >> Fact is, again, that ёлка - "in the wild" - can be written ёлка and елка > > Though you need a better dictionary: it's the diminutive of ель (as > in Yel'tsin) meaning "fir tree", and is the 4-letter word for > "Christmas tree".
The dictionary of Dal,[1] says: «Ель, ели́на, умал. ёлка [snip]», which ought to mean that ёлка is a diminutive of ель. My impression is the same as yours with regard to the Christmas tree/New year tree meaning, but many dictionaries do list "fir tree" as the primary meaning of ёлка and Christmas/New year tree as a secondary meaning. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Dal С праздником! -- leif halvard silli
