troika
[troi-kuh]
- a Russian carriage, wagon, or sleigh drawn by a team of three horses abreast.
- a team of three horses driven abreast.
- any group of three persons, nations, etc., acting equally in unison to exert influence, control, or the like.
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Origin of troika
1835–45; < Russian tróĭka threesome, troika, derivative of tróe three (collective), akin to tri three
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for troika
Contemporary Examples
The CPR was supposed to be the progressive counterweight among the troika of parties that governed Tunisia before Sheratongate.
He is already not quite Dole/McCain/Romney, the troika calumniated as sellouts by Cruz at his CPAC speech last week.
Next in line is the body louse—the only dangerous member of the troika.
Dwight Chapin is the least known of this troika, and was the first to be fired.
Couric could be a Today co-host, perhaps as part of a troika with Curry, who had already been offered the job.
Matt Lauer’s Bruising Year After Ann Curry’s Ouster Devastated the ‘Today’ ShowHoward Kurtz
March 11, 2013
Historical Examples
My new driver now appears and calls out "The troika is ready."
From Pole to PoleSven Anders Hedin
If I wished to follow the course of the troika, the road on the right was the one to choose.
DarielR. D. Blackmore
She also sprang from the troika, and held Paul by the wrist.
The Shadow of the CzarJohn R. Carling
We had the first snow here yesterday, and we had troika rides with the lawyers.
A Family of NoblemenMikhal Saltykov
But the troika had stopped, and Vassili sprang out upon the snow.
Marie TarnowskaAnnie Vivanti
troika
- a Russian vehicle drawn by three horses abreast
- three horses harnessed abreast
- a triumvirate
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Word Origin
C19: from Russian, from troe three
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
Word Origin and History for troika
n.
1842, "carriage drawn by three horses abreast," from Russian troika "three-horse team, any group of three," from collective numeral troe "three" + diminutive suffix -ka. Sense of "any group of three administrators, triumvirate" is first recorded 1945.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper