Comment by abcd_f
4 years ago
As a sidenote - “dura” is a common and fairly rude Russian word for “fool” or “imbecile” as applied to women.
Perhaps it was intended, but I can’t quite make a connection.
4 years ago
As a sidenote - “dura” is a common and fairly rude Russian word for “fool” or “imbecile” as applied to women.
Perhaps it was intended, but I can’t quite make a connection.
LOL — author here — I definitely didn't intend it that way, but it does kind of jive with "Git's" other meaning. I should have known that all 4-letter words are an insult in some language.
I had originally named it "duralumin" after a magical metal in [a novel that I'm reading](https://www.amazon.com/Well-Ascension-Mistborn-Book/dp/07653...). I shortened it to "dura" after realizing that I can't even remember the name, so there's no chance anyone else will. Plus is has that "durable" vibe to it, which seemed appropriate.
As a Russian speaker, I would say that I feel our swear words become truly offensive when they are explicitly targeted at a person. "Dura" is also not considered to be an expletive, and I have not heard it being used in its original meaning after I finished 5th grade. Pronunciation in Russian is also different, word sounds like "doo-ra".
FWIW the same word "dura" may also be used as a slang word for a large and unwieldy inanimate object.
Sometimes the word "dura" has the meaning of "something big and an intricate nature," i.e., just a synonym for "stuff." For example, "положи эту дуру в шкаф" (put this stuff in the closet)
Perhaps you will find it interesting: in Russian, the abbreviated word “dural” is often used for duralumin.
Not sure if it was obvious to you, but years after reading the novel I found out it’s not just a ‘magical metal’, it exists and is/was used in aircraft construction.
I’d just never heard of it before.
Off topic: great choice! I love all of Brandon Sanderson's works. Enjoy it, the first Mistborn series has a very satisfying conclusion!
I took it as short for "durable". But then again "git" is a common, slightly rude English word for "fool" or "imbecile" as usually applied to men...
And "git" is English slang for similar.
Dura is also an anatomical term for the tissue encasing the brain.
The tissue encasing the brain is called "dura mater" - Latin for "tough mother".
Apparently it left quite an impression on early anatomists/neurosurgeons.
Interesting. I've always thought it was the word from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095348/
Also Spanish or Portuguese adjective in feminine form, meaning: "hard", "resistant", "harsh" etc.
Not to mention Latin. The French equivalent is "dur[e]". The membrane surrounding the brain is "dura mater" to an anatomist, which is Latin for "hard mother".
In brazilian portuguse it's also slang for "scolding".
I thought most every Russian was over it after laughing for a bit about the last name of the VKontakte founder, Pavel Durov. At least I didn't make this association immediately when I saw the name of this project.
To me the last name of Durov makes an association with “someone who fools”, connected to the verb “дурить” - “durit” - “to fool”.
It's pretty hard to name something without having it accidentally stand out in one of thousands of languages (or even a few major ones). I wouldn't read too much into the intention.
It’s also the name for the protective membrane that surrounds your brain!
if you're a fool you will be happy you installed this tool