izba

or is·ba

[ iz-bah ]

noun

1. the traditional log house of rural Russia, with an unheated entrance room and a single living and sleeping room heated by a clay or brick stove.

Word History and Origins

Origin of izba¹

1775–85; < Russian izbá (diminutive istópka ), Old Russian istŭba house, bath, cognate with Serbo-Croatian ìzba small room, shack, Czech jizba room, Old Czech jistba, jizdba, all < Slavic *jĭstŭba ≪ Vulgar Latin *extūfa, with short u perhaps < Germanic *stuba; stove ¹

Example Sentences

The kholodnaya izba—the “cold izba,” as opposed to the “warm izba” or living room.

From Project Gutenberg

The Evil one strove and strove, but nothing came of it, the izba still remained pitch dark.

From Project Gutenberg

He thought, "It is useless to waste money and labour on an izba, when the roving Tatars will carry it off in any case."

From Project Gutenberg

Round her came swarming countless devils, the izba was full of them!

From Project Gutenberg

He unharnessed his horse and put everything in its place, and then went into the izba (room), but found no one there.

From Project Gutenberg