mobik

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Borrowed from Russian мо́бик (móbik), from моб(илизо́ванный) (mob(ilizóvannyj), mobilized) +‎ -ик (-ik, diminutive suffix).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

mobik (plural mobiks or mobiki)

  1. (informal, derogatory, Internet, military, sometimes humorous) A Russian conscript during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially a young man with little to no fighting experience.
    • 2022 October 6, Isabel van Brugen, “Putin Has 'Lost Control' as Infighting Breaks Out Among Russia's Elite”, in Newsweek[1]:
      "The video was posted on and being reposted by pro-Wagner channels, which matches Prigozhin's 'Fire Shojgu' narrative...Also some Wagner patches are visible on it. Nearly all 'poor mobiks' (mobilized men) on the video wear balaclavas," Krutov wrote.
    • 2022 October 16, Neil MacFarquhar, “'Coffins Are Already Coming': The Toll of Russia's Chaotic Draft”, in The New York Times[2]:
      The Defense Ministry has pumped out a stream of videos showing happy "mobiks," as the recruits are known in Russian slang, learning to shoot, attack tanks, tie a tourniquet, plant a land mine and other military tasks.

Alternative forms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

See also

[edit]