Дача /dacha/ summer country house
Our contemporaries do not even suspect that the word dacha has a long history. It originates in the words "дать" (to give) and "подарок" (gift). In the 17th century it signified a piece of land given by the tsar. In late 18th century it was viewed as a small noble estate or a summer country house. However, in 19th century they became so-called summer retreat of Russian intelligentsia from polluted and noisy city. After the nationalization in 1917 some of them were converted into vacation homes for working class. Nowadays every summer weekend you can witness commuter trains overcrowded by "dachniki" (owners of these summer houses and surrounding piece of land ).
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