volost

American  

[voh-luhst] / ˈvoʊ ləst /

noun

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

2. a rural soviet.

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volost British  

/ ˈvəʊlɒst /

noun

1. (in the former Soviet Union) a rural soviet

2. (in tsarist Russia) a peasant community consisting of several villages or hamlets

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Etymology

Origin of volost

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

Example Sentences

It happened sometimes that one of these elders, who was considered unusually wise or powerful, became chief of the volost, a dignity which might become hereditary.

From Project Gutenberg

The communes nearest together formed a still larger group called a Volost; that is, a canton or parish, which was governed by a council composed of the elders of the communes, one of whom was recognized as the chief.

From Project Gutenberg

At the head of the commune or mir was the elder, a group of communes formed a Volost, and the head of the Volost was responsible for the peace and order of the community.

From Project Gutenberg

With great difficulty there were established organs of a local, autonomous administration, volost and district zemstvos, which were to furnish a basis of organization to the government zemstvos.

From Project Gutenberg

An unfortunate footman   Inscribed in our Volost, A martyr, a house-serf   Of Count Sinegúsin's.

From Project Gutenberg