Difference between revisions of "Molotov cocktail"
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[[British Commonwealth]] speakers usually refer to these as "petrol bombs," using the [[British]] name for gasoline. | [[British Commonwealth]] speakers usually refer to these as "petrol bombs," using the [[British]] name for gasoline. | ||
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| + | ==Origins== | ||
| + | The name "Molotov cocktail" was coined by the Finns during [[World War II]],<ref name="online">Online Etymology Dictionary: [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/molotov+cocktail ''Molotov cocktail'']. Douglas Harper, 2010.</ref> called ''Molotovin koktaili'' in [[Finnish language|Finnish]]. The name was a pejorative reference to Soviet foreign minister [[Vyacheslav Molotov]], who was one of the architects of the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]] signed in late August 1939. | ||
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| + | The name's origin came from the [[propaganda]] Molotov produced, mainly his declaration on [[Soviet]] state radio that bombing missions over [[Finland]] were actually humanitarian relief efforts.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Casselman, Bill|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1007046570|title=Word stash|isbn=1-4907-8494-2|oclc=1007046570}}</ref> The Finns sarcastically dubbed the Soviet cluster bombs "Molotov bread baskets".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Langdon-Davies |first=John |date=June 1940 |title=The Lessons of Finland |journal=Picture Post |authorlink=John Langdon-Davies}}</ref> When the hand-held bottle firebomb was developed to attack Soviet tanks, the Finns called it the "Molotov cocktail", as "a drink to go with his food parcels".<ref>''The Second Book of General Ignorance'', Faber and Faber, 2011, p.76, ISBN|978-0-571-26965-5.</ref> | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Misnomers]] | [[Category:Misnomers]] | ||
[[Category:Weapons]] | [[Category:Weapons]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:02, September 9, 2020
A Molotov cocktail is a hand-held incendiary device. One makes it by pouring gasoline into a narrow-necked bottle and stuffing that bottle with a cloth wick that dips into the gasoline. To use it, the user lights the wick and throws the bottle.
British Commonwealth speakers usually refer to these as "petrol bombs," using the British name for gasoline.
Origins
The name "Molotov cocktail" was coined by the Finns during World War II,[1] called Molotovin koktaili in Finnish. The name was a pejorative reference to Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, who was one of the architects of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact signed in late August 1939.
The name's origin came from the propaganda Molotov produced, mainly his declaration on Soviet state radio that bombing missions over Finland were actually humanitarian relief efforts.[2] The Finns sarcastically dubbed the Soviet cluster bombs "Molotov bread baskets".[3] When the hand-held bottle firebomb was developed to attack Soviet tanks, the Finns called it the "Molotov cocktail", as "a drink to go with his food parcels".[4]
References
- ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary: Molotov cocktail. Douglas Harper, 2010.
- ↑ Casselman, Bill. Word stash. ISBN 1-4907-8494-2. OCLC 1007046570.
- ↑ Langdon-Davies, John (June 1940). "The Lessons of Finland". Picture Post.
- ↑ The Second Book of General Ignorance, Faber and Faber, 2011, p.76, ISBN|978-0-571-26965-5.