Small spool, but expensive - the meaning of the expression and various variants of the famous proverb

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Proverbs and sayings have long become an integral part of the culture of speech. And often we use folk aphorisms automatically, without thinking about their meaning and origin, or without even knowing that the phrase used is a proverb. One of the most popular popular expressions is the phrase "small spool, but expensive." The meaning of this saying, although it lies on the surface, is incomprehensible to the younger generation. Let's try to figure out where this folk wisdom came from and what it makes sense.

What used to be called a spool?

To understand the meaning of the winged expression, first you need to understand the unfamiliar word "spool". It's an archaism, an obsolete word. It came from the "zlatnik" - a gold coin that was used in Kievan Rus and later.

In addition to the coin, this word is also used to refer to a technical device in steam engines, but the proverb appeared much earlier than such devices were invented,therefore, the word "spool" refers to the monetary unit.

Origin of the catchphrase

The weight of the spool (or zlatnik) was 4.2 grams and was often used as a measure of weight. Over time, a small weight was widely used, equal in weight to this gold coin and inheriting its name. That is why, over time, the word "zolotnik" began to denote a unit of measurement and was actively used by pharmacists, jewelers and culinary specialists until the twentieth century (in 1917 it was introduced in Russia and began to be used as the main international system of units, or SI).

Such a weight was used to find out the amount of pure silver, precious stones or gold coins, and since even a small gold pebble was of great value, this folk wisdom eventually appeared.

"The spool is small, but expensive": the meaning of the expression

This catch phrase is used in a wide variety of situations, mainly to characterize not only a person, but also some object. The meaning of the saying "small spool, but expensive" indicates the exceptional features and qualities of someone or something that has an ordinary appearance. And it is for these qualities that a person or object is valued.

By the way, like many other popular expressions, this popular aphorism also has a continuation. One of the options is considered "Fedora is great, but a fool, the spool is small, but expensive."The meaning of this proverb is as follows: despite youth or small stature, a person has many virtues.

And in the book of V. I. Dahl, which contains a large number of Russian proverbs and sayings, several variants of the famous aphorism are indicated at once:

• "The spool is small, but they weigh gold, the camel is large, but they carry water." Obviously, in this version of the famous proverb, we are talking about the measure of the weight and value of the object.
• "Small spool, but expensive. Large stump, but hollow." And here it is precisely the generally accepted meaning that is implied: even an unsightly or small-looking item can turn out to be very expensive and have a high value.
• "The spool is small, but heavy. And the spool is small, but expensive." This phrase is about money. Indeed, on a small spool in Russia, one could buy many different goods.

Sayings similar in meaning

There are many expressions similar in meaning to "small spool, but expensive". Also, such analogues as "small, but remote" (or in the old Russian version "small, but remote") or "small nightingale, but great voice" have become widespread.