Beyond EnglishJewish lifeMyths & disputes

блат

Soviet blat, 'pull' or getting things through connections, came from underworld slang. The Hebrew origin (ballāṭ 'secretly' by way of Yiddish) is one serious proposal, but the source may just as well be German Blatt or Polish thieves' cant.

Weakest linkPossible

The story you may have heard

Any single confident origin story. The Hebrew 'secretly' etymology is one specialist's proposal; Vasmer preferred Yiddish or Polish words ultimately from German Blatt; and the colourful tale that Odessa bandits called a receipt for goods a 'blat' has no evidence behind it.

The road to Russian

From Yiddish to Polish

From Russian to Ukrainian

700 BCEBiblical Hebrew

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

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