duma
[ doo-muh ]
/ ˈdu mə /
Save This Word!
noun
(in Russia prior to 1917) a council or official assembly.
(initial capital letter) an elective legislative assembly, established in 1905 by Nicholas II, constituting the lower house of parliament.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT 
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Also douma.
Origin of duma
1865–70; <Russian, Old Russian dúma assembly, council (an early homonym with dúma thought); cognate with Bulgarian dúma word, Slovak duma meditation; Slavic *dum- probably <Gothic dōms judgment (see doom)
Words nearby duma
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for duma
British Dictionary definitions for duma
duma
douma
/ Russian (ˈduːmə) /
noun Russian history
(usually capital) the elective legislative assembly established by Tsar Nicholas II in 1905: overthrown by the Bolsheviks in 1917
(before 1917) any official assembly or council
short for State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament
Word Origin for duma
C20: from duma thought, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic dōms judgment
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012