zelyonka

English

Alexei Navalny after a zelyonka attack in Moscow (2017)

Etymology

From Russian зелёнка (zeljónka, “zelyonka”).

Noun

zelyonka (uncountable)

1. Brilliant green, especially when thrown on the body of a victim in Russian politically-motivated attacks.
   • 2017 May 10, Oleg Kashin, “Russian Terrorism Now Comes in Green!”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     Technically, it’s known as a triarylmethane dye. In drugstores, it’s sold under the name Brilliant Green. But generations of Soviet citizens knew it as “zelyonka” (the green). […] After an application of zelyonka, a wound dries and forms a scab within a few hours.