volost

[ voh-luhst ]

noun

1. (formerly) a small administrative peasant division in Russia.
2. a rural soviet.

volost

/ ˈvəʊlɒst /

noun

1. (in the former Soviet Union) a rural soviet
2. (in tsarist Russia) a peasant community consisting of several villages or hamlets

Word History and Origins

Origin of volost¹

From Russian vólostʾ; Old Russian volostĭ “region, state, authority,” cognate with Old Church Slavonic vlastĭ “sovereignty, power, authority,” derivative of unattested Slavic vald- “rule,” cognate with Lithuanian valdýti, Gothic waldan, Old English wealdan “to rule”; wield

Word History and Origins

Origin of volost¹

from Russian

Example Sentences

They were judged by elected courts, that is juries, either in the mir court or in that of the volost (district).

From Project Gutenberg

The District (Volost) Zemstvo was to undertake the administration of local agriculture, education, order and safety.

From Project Gutenberg