The meaning of the phraseologism “to beat with a forehead” does not become clearer if it is clarified that in the old days in Russia a forehead was called a forehead: to beat with a forehead. Why and under what circumstances? Let's find out.
Origins
Plunging into the history of Russia, we will see that our ancestors used to bow to the ground. Most often they were performed like this: a person fell to his knees and bowed so low that his forehead hit the floor. With this deep bow, which was said to be "bowing with a great custom," people expressed incredible respect for the person in front of whom they had to beat with their foreheads. The meaning of this ritual migrated into the vocabulary. In Ancient Russia, the words “bow forehead” were widely used in business letters, contract letters and private correspondence.
Meanings of phraseologism
The first texts in which linguists found this bizarre expression are contained in birch bark letters of the XIV century and indicate a greeting in private correspondence. That is, it was supposed to beat with a forehead not only to the king, but to a sister, matchmaker, brother, friend, etc. In some letters from the middle of the 14th century, this verbal formula is used in the meaning of “complain.”
A century later, as historians discovered,phrases opened up new semantic shades: request, petition. With them, the people went to the authorities to beat with their foreheads. The meaning of the phraseologism in this case brings us back to the idea of a searching bow to the earth before the mighty of this world.
In the 16th century, according to the literary monument of Russian antiquity "Domostroy", the phrase was used in the meaning of "to present as a gift", also, no doubt, with the deepest respect. It was customary to beat with a forehead during the wedding ceremony, when on behalf of the bride he brought the groom a loaf, cheese and her scarf.
In the written sources of the 17th century phraseologism expresses a polite wish and gratitude.
In the "Life of Stephen of Perm" there is a description of how a pagan priest beats his forehead, repenting of his guilt. And in Christian churches, believers bowed low, touching the floor with their foreheads, kneeling in front of the icon.
East Asian roots of Russian custom
Is the custom to beat with a brow primordially Russian, or did our ancestors "peep" it from other peoples with whom they were connected by historical fate? Researchers believe that he came to us from the Asians. In the East, it was customary to prostrate before the ruler, without raising one's eyes to the royal person. The element of self-deprecation of the subject seemed to add significance to the sovereign.
At the Chinese court there were more than three thousand rules of ceremonial behavior, among which prostration occupied a special place. Perhaps this custom leaked into Russian court etiquette from here. Historiansit is known that as early as the beginning of the 15th century, Russian princes paid tribute to the Moscow tsar not so slavishly. Conversations with the monarch were carried on easily, in a friendly way, almost on an equal footing. And only towards the end of the century, when the Russian court borrowed solemn ceremonies from the Byzantines (this happened with the marriage of Ivan III to a Byzantine princess), along with the arrangement of the magnificent decoration of the royal chambers, the sovereign demanded special honors for himself. Under his grandson, Ivan the Terrible, the boyars and other officials were already bowing to the floor with might and main, that is, they beat him with their foreheads. The custom has become widespread.
Petition
Written statements or petitions in which people addressed the monarch in all form were called petitions. The custom of serving them existed until the eighteenth century. Letters began with the words "brows" addressed to the king, followed by information about the petitioner and the request itself. At the end of the document was a personal signature. Petitions were brought to the royal palace, where they were collected by the duma clerk. To avoid misunderstandings, the official put the date and his signature on the reverse side.
Today
For a long time there has been no custom to slap top dignitaries, the corresponding expression has also gone out of use. However, it perfectly took root as a phraseological turn and is used brilliantly in literature and journalism.
