Kots of Slobozhanshchyna: Etymological Context

Author

Pavliuk Olena

a postgraduate student at the department of Fine, Decorative and Applied Arts of M. Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies, Folkloristics and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine).

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5744-9588

Kots of Slobozhanshchyna: Etymological Context

Abstract

Etymological investigations within the submitted research involve the study of the origin of the terms kots and the kots of Slobozhanshchyna, their meaning description, that is closely related to the history of the origin and development of the kotsarstvo industry in Slobozhanshchyna. The authoress is considering the meaning of the terms in the context of regional cultural and everyday realities in the course of the research.

The term kots has become widespread in Ukraine from the 16th century to determine individual types of carpets, although the first mention of a pile carpet product in the east of Ukraine appeared much earlier. However, each region of the country has its own interpretation of the term kots and the names derived from it, and carpet products differ in their own technique of execution and ethno-cultural specificity.

Kotsarstvo, as one of the types of carpet making, has its own unique history and traditions. During the 18th – 19th centuries this artistic folk craft has been widespread in Slobozhanshchyna and is in demand outside Ukraine. Kotsarstvo has supplanted the factory production of carpets in the last quarter of the 19th century. It was forgotten for almost a hundred years, but it has survived to this day thanks to the ability of individual craftsmen to produce pile carpets – kots and pass this knowledge on to their descendants.

The term «kots», which is quite common in the scientific literature of the Art Studies, History, Ethnography, and Culturology, was studied in depth in their works by only a few scientists, and at the specified term is not fixed at all.

The etymology of the word kots and names derived from it in the ethnocultural aspect is considered in the article. The kots of Slobozhanshchyna is described, in particular those of Kharkiv, produced on vertical loom sand those have a shaggy side with a long pile and a simple geometric ornament. The authoress has analyzed the meaning of the term kots, relying on the works of ethnologists, historians, linguists, art historians, cultural experts, archaeological findings, the regulatory and legislative framework.

Keywords

carpet making, pile carpet, kots, carpet-kots, Slobozhanshchyna, artistic folk craft, etymology.

References

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