Nov 17, 2009 18:06
14 yrs ago
Russian term

пансион для девственниц

Russian to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Судя по воланам и коротким рукавчикам, обрамленным кружевами, платье в дореволюционные времена служило ночной рубашкой в пансионе для девственниц, пока не было перешито и подвернуто снизу по подолу до нужной длины.

I'd think the author was being sarcastic, but it doesn't seem that way. Are there any history buffs out there who might know?

Discussion

Mark Berelekhis (asker) Nov 17, 2009:
Hah, that'll do it! :D
Angela Greenfield Nov 17, 2009:
LOL, Henry :-)
Henry Schroeder Nov 17, 2009:
And you should really call it a virginary - that'll bowl your readers over...
Mark Berelekhis (asker) Nov 17, 2009:
Very informative Thanks to all, especially Angela.
Larissa Dinsley Nov 17, 2009:
В монастырь! Девственницы были в монастыре, а в пансионе - девицы. :)
Angela Greenfield Nov 17, 2009:
а вот еще ночная рубашка http://media.photobucket.com/image/%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D1...

С поправкой для пансиона девиц: ткань подешевле и не такая прозрачная.
Maria Fokin Nov 17, 2009:
i agree on the sarcasm because i don't think there where пансионы для девственниц, there where however пансионы для (благородных) девиц.
Angela Greenfield Nov 17, 2009:
А вот здесь рукав воланом хорошо виден: http://media.photobucket.com/image/%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D1...
Angela Greenfield Nov 17, 2009:
Вот примерно так выглядела ночная рубашка:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D1...

В пансионе для девственниц, разумеется, не так красиво это выглядело. Рубашки делались из непрозрачного хлопка с отделкой из кружав по вороту, рукаву и подолу.
Согласно тому, что написал ваш автор, его героиня укоротила нечто подобное и была в это одета.
Angela Greenfield Nov 17, 2009:
Воланы Автор, действительно, высказывается с иронией. По всей видимости, он описывает кого-то в ужасно старомодном платье, которое выглядело так, как будто дореволюционная ночная рубашка (которая была до пола) была укорочена и из нее было сделано платье.

Proposed translations

9 mins
Selected

a) finishing school / b (sarcastic) finishing school for virgin maidens

Может автор не знаком с темой?

Существовали "пансионы благородных девиц", никаких "пансионов для девственниц" не существовало.

http://www.multitran.ru/c/m.exe?a=3&&s=������� ����� &l1=2&l2=1

Если вы хотите сарказма... может "finishing school for virgin maidens" ?

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Note added at 9 mins (2009-11-17 18:16:05 GMT)
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см. также http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finishing_school
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Because the description is that of an elderly Russian immigrant, I thought it would be best to keep the foreign flavor and not anglicize. Thanks everyone!"
+2
32 mins

boarding school for girls/young ladies (virgins)

///
Peer comment(s):

agree Angela Greenfield
1 min
thank you, Angela
agree Marina Serbina
24 mins
thank you
Something went wrong...
1 hr

college for virginal maidens/young intactæ college

if sarcasm there to be... ("With Us Your Hymen Is Secure!")

"college", as you doubtless know, in olden times was used primarily in a sense of a boarding establishment and only secondarily as a teaching joint. In Italy, it's still used this way. As a matter of fact, there are colleges where one only lives, and goes to study elsewhere.
Something went wrong...
1 day 5 hrs

catholic school

I think in context this might fit.
It's not like there's a "virgin test" or anything but catholic schools are a prerequisite for nuns, no?
Medium confidence here though. I just don't like to overthink.

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Note added at 4 days (2009-11-22 05:22:15 GMT) Post-grading
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Weren't you looking for a sarcastic phrase? Though they may not be chaste, they sure wear chaste attire, no?

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Note added at 4 days (2009-11-22 05:22:50 GMT) Post-grading
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And besides, I am unsure of GA catholic schools, never went near one :)
Note from asker:
By the way, I don't know about Georgia, but in NY catholic school girls are some of the least chaste around, at least they were when I was in high school (and I doubt much has changed) :D
I was, but catholic also doesn't work from the historical perspective. Russians are Christian Orthodox :)
Something went wrong...
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