What are the zones?
There are two types of zones in Russia:
- Reds.
- Black.
In red zones, the administration retains full control over all areas of the prisoners’ lives. In the black zones, orders are established by authorities from the criminal caste. The administration usually does not interfere in affairs between prisoners, except in situations where they are clearly breaking the law and this violation has serious consequences.
Sometimes they also talk about gray zones, in which both systems are mixed. In this case, each specific prison may differ significantly from others in its order and conditions of detention for convicts.
Who is the goat in the zone?
“Goats” (another name for convicts) are prisoners who began to cooperate with the administration. You can often come across the opinion that “goats” in prison jargon is a synonym for the word “informer”. But in fact, the concept of “goat” is much broader. This caste includes even those who simply participate in prison amateur performances. That is, answering the question of who the goat is in the zone, we can simply say that this is a representative of the asset.
Where did the comparison with informers come from? The comparison is based on real life in prisons. Since the main goal of participation in the active is to obtain parole, administration officials often persuade prisoners not only to cooperate within the framework of legal work in the zone, but also as informants.
As a result, the attitude towards goats in the zone is twofold. On the one hand, the prisoners greet them and communicate. On the other hand, they never talk about serious things in their presence and do not allow goats to the common fund.
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Calling a person a goat in a colony means causing him a serious insult. And any prisoner will answer it, because otherwise he will be recognized as a representative of this caste. They often respond to such treatment with force, and can even kill. This is especially true of situations when one of the thieves is called a goat. For him, punishing the offender is a matter of honor.
Considering such features of the position of a goat in prison, it should not be confused with a similar insult in the wild. In the zone, you will have to answer for this word, said without proper grounds.
The place of goats in the prison hierarchy
Speaking about the castes of prisoners, it is worth noting that the goat in the zone stands apart from other categories of prisoners. With thieves and peasants everything is quite clear. The first are the highest caste in the hierarchy of convicts. In black zones, they determine the rules of conduct and resolve all controversial issues between other prisoners. In the red zones, thieves do not have such absolute power, but they still enjoy authority and influence among other convicts.
The men work in the prison and comply with the requirements of the hostel without breaking taboos. As a result, although they are not such an influential caste, being the most widespread, they enjoy the recognition and respect of other prisoners.
Roosters or lowered ones are the lowest caste, kind of untouchable. People get into it for violating the basic rules of behavior in prison or in the wild.
Unlike all of the above, goats are closest to the administration, but are not considered absolute outcasts among prisoners. The attitude towards them is, of course, wary and cautious, but not strictly negative.
It should be borne in mind that it can vary significantly in different zones. In the black zones, the status of goats is significantly lower than in the red zones. In the Reds, with the support of the administration, they can even influence the order and relationships between prisoners.
It is customary to call convicts who openly cooperate with the administration of a correctional institution as goats in places of deprivation of liberty. This is one of the lowest castes in the prison hierarchy.
Already from the 14th century in Rus', the abusive word “goat” was used in relation to all kinds of scoundrels and swindlers. Since the early 1960s, this word has come to mean a person who actively cooperates with the administration of the colony. The prisoner's status as a goat was practically constant throughout his entire stay in prison.
Prisoners belonging to the goat group prefer to call themselves activists, reds, independent men or positive. But the prisoners never call them goats.
The word "asshole" is one of the most serious insults for a prisoner who does not belong to this group. He is obliged to react immediately and harshly (to hit or even kill the offender), otherwise he risks his reputation and a decrease in status. So the word “goat” itself and its derivatives (goat, goat, goat and horned) are prohibited from being used in everyday speech.
Many believe that this category of prisoners are informers. Actually this is not true. None of the prisoners will chat in their presence. Moreover, they keep themselves apart. The heads of the operational part of the zone are very cunning people, they always have such “assistants” who are the least likely to be suspected. Therefore, it should be recognized that goats, reds, activists (call them whatever you want) in areas where thieves are established are useless. They don’t knock and the administration cannot maintain order. Well, in the “red zones”, where the influence of the administration is strong, their task is simple, like grandfathers in the army - to suppress the rest of the prisoners by force, so that the colony employees do not bother themselves with worries about discipline.
A prisoner automatically turned red upon joining the internal order section or the so-called “amateur organizations of convicts,” or if he agreed to take the position of a work assistant, foreman, supply manager, or orderly. Working in these positions provides a number of benefits from the administration and makes it possible to move into the category of people “firmly on the path of correction,” which ensures inclusion in the number of candidates for early release or pardon. But a person can be considered a goat only when he openly harms other convicts.
One former authority said: “Red is a way of life. There is no demand for the lifestyle. Demand for actions. But if a red one does a good deed, then he is still red. Reds are different. There are those that publish wall newspapers and organize sporting events. These are harmless red ones. But there are also goats. For me, goats are those who help break people's progress. Life in the camp is arranged in such a way that the trash cannot do anything without the help of the prisoners. And if there are real goats in the positions of supply managers, foremen, and order workers, then this is a real disaster for the camp. All people are different. Everyone has their own worldview. For some, being red is good. For some, being red means selling yourself for an extra scoop of porridge. It often happens that the authorities rely on “their” people, and sometimes it happens that in order to transfer heat to the punishment cell [punishment cell – Author], the Reds are needed, because only they have access there.”
The famous thief in law Alexander Severov (Sasha Sever) expressed his point of view in an interview: “The category of these people has their own “right path” - to quickly jump out to freedom. They put on a bandage, join sections, and begin to cooperate with the administration. The latter characterizes them as “those who have taken the path of correction.” And they: here I reported on one, there on another. And he went on parole. I’m sitting in the zone, two months pass, Vasya comes, the one who went on parole. The administration is happy. But according to the normal logic of things, she should tell him: “Oh, you scoundrel! You have failed us. You are on the path to correction. We vouched for you, but a month later you committed a crime again.” Severov is sure that such people only consider themselves to be on the path of correction, but in reality they are ordinary opportunists deceiving the administration: “According to their reports, people are put in a punishment cell. Instead of helping someone in trouble, they build their well-being on him. Betray your neighbor for profit.”
In the prison world there are several castes - groups of prisoners of different dignity.
There are four main castes: thieves (tramps, lads), men (the most numerous caste), goats, roosters (outcasts).
If everything is more or less clear with the thieves and peasants (persons who adhere to thieves’ traditions, working prisoners who did not join either the thieves or the goats), then who the goats are in the zone is not entirely clear.
But in life, when people often swear, they call each other assholes, but at the same time they do not mean what this word means in prison jargon.
Goat, goat, goat's face and other derivatives of the word "goat" are insulting words. But if in ordinary life a person who has been called an asshole may not react in any way to an offensive word, then in prison this spoken word may even cost the life of the one who uttered it.
If some “correct” prisoner is called a goat, then the demand from the one who called him will be great. In prison, goats are a separate caste of prisoners, belonging to which is not held in high esteem.
Reproduction and lifespan
Among the peasants and thieves, the work associated with sweeping the territory of the penal colony is considered shameful. ITU staff know that picking up a broom lowers the informal status of a prisoner, and they present him with a choice: either go out with a broom onto the parade ground (where all prisoners are lined up, and it is not at all necessary to actually sweep the area), or be sent to a punishment cell.
Roosters or lowered ones are the lowest caste, kind of untouchable. People get into it for violating the basic rules of behavior in prison or in the wild.
Rape, torture and beatings of the majority of pupils by a group of children or teenagers enjoying the patronage of educators (the principle of Soviet pedagogy is collective education), and sometimes by the educators themselves, are also common here.
If everything is more or less clear with the thieves and peasants (persons who adhere to thieves’ traditions, working prisoners who did not join either the thieves or the goats), then who the goats are in the zone is not entirely clear.
What does goat mean in prison slang?
A goat or a woolen suit are bastards who previously lived according to black laws, and then, either forced or of their own free will, took the right path - they began to cooperate with the administration.
But most people become assholes for one simple reason - to quickly be released, to receive parole.
The administration of the colony calls the goats “active”, activists, people who are firmly on the path of correction. Of course, the other prisoners treat the goats badly.
People become goats in different ways: some of their own free will, some are intimidated, others are forced. They greet the goats in the zone and communicate with them, but they are not allowed into the “common fund”.
There is a legend in prison camps that supposedly there is a secret order: in the event of war, all the goats must be shot as potential traitors.
But this is just a legend. Although during the Second World War, German punitive detachments were composed not of army soldiers, but of policemen.
Who is a goat according to concepts?
Goats (another name is red) are individuals who openly cooperate with the administration. Those prisoners who are members of various amateur performance sections, discipline and order sections in a correctional institution are also considered goats.
The goats cooperate with the administration for banal relief. So, for their work they can receive a can of condensed milk, sausage, some can even count on parole for particularly good work.
There is a reason why there is such a common phrase: “You will answer for a goat” in the zone: if you call a prisoner a goat, which he is not, then this will be considered a grave crime.
For such a clause, the convict will receive a quick “response” - a blow to the face (at best), maybe even stabbed to death. If a prisoner who has been called a goat does not answer the offender, then he will automatically be assigned to the “goat” suit.
Many people think that the meaning of the word “goat” is the same as informer. Such prisoners notify the administration about some case or event.
However, it is not. None of the men or thieves will carry on a conversation in the presence of a goat. And the “bitches” stay apart.
Meaning of the word goat in jargon
p. That is, these are the people who put on the “jambs” - the armband, these are the ones who joined the crime prevention section.
Goats can also be called bitches - those who agreed to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. A goat or a woolen suit are bastards who previously lived according to black laws, and then, either forced or of their own free will, took the right path - they began to cooperate with the administration.
But most people become assholes for one simple reason - to quickly be released, to receive parole.
People become goats in different ways: some of their own free will, some are intimidated, others are forced.
Thieves jargon
In human terms, the emphasis is more on the interest of the man, so that he does not have problems either from the administration or from the lads and is not particularly dependent on the thieves.
You can fully understand Fenya, especially the modern one, only by constantly communicating in such circles.
Two assholes are capable of fully discussing the prisoner standing next to him: the article, the term, the size of his boots and even the history of his illness, while the person being discussed will not understand the real meaning, although he can take an active part in the communication. Those who know thieves often use this language in
Goat meaning of the word in thieves' jargon. Prison castes
In addition to the “clean profile”, the candidate for thieves must adhere to the “correct concepts”; over time, these concepts also change (we will talk about this later).
The elite of the criminal world are thieves in law. This is not necessarily the name given to those who earn their living by theft. These are rather informal leaders, a kind of “initiates”, recognized by well-known authorities and having received their recommendation, elected as “full members” at a meeting (at the “gangway”) of all thieves located in a given prison, camp or region.
According to various estimates, there are now only a few hundred thieves in law in the territory of the former Union. They are united into several groups.
If there is no real thief in the zone, the world of thieves tries to send there a “supervisor,” that is, its representative, who will ensure that the prisoners comply with the thieves’ law and the thieves’ orders.
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Thieves' orders are usually a new rule created as a result of some dispute between prisoners, or as a response to a new Ministry of Internal Affairs action.
The meaning of the word GOAT in the Dictionary of Russian Railway Slang
Male goat.
2) transfer up-down Stubborn, unpleasant person to talk to.
2. m.
Gymnastic apparatus in the form of an upholstered ... in Lopatin's Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, ... in the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, ... in the Spelling Dictionary: goat, ... in Ozhegov's Dictionary of the Russian Language: ruminant artiodactyl animal of the bovid family with long hair Wild k. Short mare (in 4 meanings; ... in Ushakov’s Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, m.
(those.). Frozen during melting and stuck to something.
(to the walls of the ladle, to the furnace, etc.) ... in Ephraim’s Explanatory Dictionary: 1.
“Goat”: who is called that in a Russian prison
Therefore, it should be recognized that goats, reds, activists (call them whatever you want) in areas where thieves are established are useless. They don’t knock and the administration cannot maintain order.
Well, in the “red zones”, where the influence of the administration is strong, their task is simple, like grandfathers in the army - to suppress the rest of the prisoners by force, so that the colony employees do not bother themselves with worries about discipline.
A prisoner automatically turned red upon joining the internal order section or the so-called “amateur organizations of convicts,” or if he agreed to take the position of a work assistant, foreman, supply manager, or orderly.
Working in these positions provides a number of benefits from the administration and makes it possible to move into the category of people “firmly on the path of correction,” which ensures inclusion in the number of candidates for early release or pardon. But a person can be considered a goat only when he openly harms other convicts.
One former authority said: “Red is a way of life.
A brief dictionary of thieves' jargon of the criminal world
Not used in relation to representatives of such informal groups as goats, devils, omitted ones. c) - a prisoner who openly cooperates with the administration of the correctional facility, who has joined sections, “amateur organizations of convicts.”
Prisoner (t) - 1) thief in law; 2) thieves; 3) a respected, authoritative prisoner. Athlete (t) - see fighter. Cormorant (t) is a bully.
The word has a contemptuous connotation; It is not customary to call authoritative, respected prisoners, even those convicted of hooliganism, cormorants.
Mess - 1) disorder in the area (or in the cell).
A mess differs from lawlessness in that lawlessness is a conscious violation by the administration or false thieves of those norms and rules that are recognized and supported by the other part of the zone (or cell), while chaos is the absence of any rules and general licentiousness, as a result of which people also suffer People. Beskovoinnik (raskovoinnik) is a prisoner who has received the right to free movement (within certain limits) outside the zone, as well as to and from work.
Lawlessness (t) - lack of order, arbitrariness, lawlessness, “lack of understanding.”
This is a goat. Meaning of the word
(Despite the experience of the pilot, it was still not possible to avoid the high-speed goat during landing). One of the chemical-technological terms that is used to describe defects formed during the production of cast plexiglass is similar to the term “fish eye”. (Unfortunately, the last batch of plexiglass was not without a goat).
One of the variants of the symbols of Satan in devil mania.
(On his left forearm the guy had a tattoo depicting Baphomet, which is the official symbol of the Church of Satan, which is popularly called a goat). However, the ambiguity of the word we are considering does not end there. But it is already in a slightly different area than those discussed above - this is the “conversational genre” and jargon.
Among other meanings, “goats” appear before us in the following guises: In a figurative sense, this is a swear word that denotes a slow-witted, mean-spirited and very unpleasant person.
The meaning of the word GOAT in the Dictionary of Thieves' Jargon
Male goat. 2) transfer up-down Stubborn, unpleasant person to talk to.
2. m.
Gymnastic apparatus in the form of an upholstered ... in Lopatin's Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, ... in the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, ... in the Spelling Dictionary: goat, ... in Ozhegov's Dictionary of the Russian Language: a ruminant artiodactyl animal of the bovid family with long hair Wild K. Mountain k. Wintorogy k. goat gymnastic apparatus - short beam ... in Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, m.
1. Male goat. Domestic goat. Shakes his beard like a goat. 2.
A sharp jump of a horse, mainly
in expressions: beat with... in Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, m. 1. Goats (colloquial special). 2.
Short mare (in 4 meanings; ... in Ushakov’s Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language: goat, m. (tech.). Frozen during melting and stuck to something.
(to the walls of the ladle, to the furnace, etc.) ... in Ephraim’s Explanatory Dictionary: 1.
What does goat mean in thieves' jargon? Prison castes
d., resolve disputes between prisoners from the point of view of unwritten criminal “laws” (according to these laws, “correct” prisoners in the event of conflicts can only turn to thieves, and in no case to the administration of places of detention).
At the same time, the criminal must act “according to concepts,” otherwise he may be omitted.
The thieves themselves, as a rule, do not call themselves thieves, but “prisoners,” “tramps,” “travelers,” etc.
d. Men are the largest group of prisoners. As a rule, they end up in prison more or less accidentally and expect to return to normal life after serving their sentence.
They work, do not claim informal power and do not cooperate with the prison administration. At “showdowns” between thieves, men do not have the right to vote (although thieves can listen to the opinions of the most respected “men”).
What does goat mean in thieves' jargon?
Prison castes
However, recently some of these requirements have been softened or completely abolished.
Thieves, as a rule, do not work in the zone; where this is allowed, the criminal should not hold any official position (in this case he automatically becomes a “goat”).
The thieves have the right to take from the “common fund” whatever they deem necessary, but at the same time they are obliged to take care of supplying the zone through illegal channels with food, tea, alcohol, etc.
d., resolve disputes between prisoners from the point of view of unwritten criminal “laws” (according to these laws, “correct” prisoners in the event of conflicts can only turn to thieves, and in no case to the administration of places of detention). At the same time, the criminal must act “according to concepts,” otherwise he may be omitted.
The thieves themselves, as a rule, do not call themselves thieves, but “prisoners,” “tramps,” “travelers,” etc.
a person posing as a thief in law 2.
- take it! * to get involved - to sort things out Badyaga - 1. unnecessary, dreary business 2. empty useless conversation, chatter 3.
boredom *to make a mess - chat, do a useless task To make a mess - 1. cook food 2.
divide the money * - Come on, little bastard, loosen up these laves! Bazaar - conversation * bazaar - talk Bazarilo - chatterbox Bazaar - commit thefts in crowded places Bazlat - scream, yell, call for help Baybut - dagger Baidan - station, airport, pier Baidanschik - a thief who commits thefts on the territory of the baidan Baikal - weak tea
What does goat mean in slang?
Using a hairdryer. Dictionary of thieves' Odessa expressions. Sometimes it happens
The thieves have the right to spend money from the “common fund” for “targeted” needs – bribery, “heating up”. They also sort out intra-prison conflicts “by concept” and assign punishment to those responsible.
There are more of them in the zone than representatives of other stripes. The lot of “men” is to work. A normal “man” does not get involved in thieves’ disputes (and “men” do not have the right to vote in them), and does not cooperate with the MLS administration. Basically, the “men” are not “professional” prisoners; their main task is to serve their sentence and resume normal life in the wild.
Those who cooperated with the “owner” (the MLS administration) - supply managers, commandants, etc. In the “black” zones, where thieves hold the upper hand, the “goats” can even be isolated from the rest of the prisoners.
In the “red” MLS, the “goats” have regime breaks and other privileges that distinguish them from other convicts.
The phrase “you will answer for a “goat”” is from Zonov’s lexicon: calling a person a “goat” in prison if he is not one is a grave mistake, for this there must be an immediate “answer”, otherwise the person called in reality risks being transferred to the rank of “goats” " The lowest caste in the prison hierarchy.
What does the word “goat” mean in thieves’ slang???
For the majority of prisoners, goats are traitors to the interests of the prison community, collaborators.
The word goat is one of the most serious insults for a prisoner who does not belong to this group. A prisoner who is so named is obliged to react immediately and harshly (to hit or even kill the offender), otherwise he risks his reputation and a decrease in status.
The word goat and its derivatives (goat, goat, goat and even horned) are taboo, and they are forbidden to be used in everyday speech.
For example, the game of dominoes, known by this name in the wild, is called “one hundred and one” in prison; telling another that he has something knitted from goat hair means insulting him. It is interesting that in the 30-50s, passive homosexuals were called goats in the camp (see.
Who are the goats in prison: in the red and black zones?
There are 2 zones in correctional institutions:
- Red - here the prison administration controls all aspects of the prisoners’ lives, all prisoners are subject to internal labor regulations, and any attempts to divide prisoners into stripes are suppressed here.
- Black - in such a zone, prisoners live “according to concepts.” There are castes here, the administration shares power with the prisoners. There are more black zones in our country in 2021 than red ones.
As for the “goats”, they are not very popular in the black zones. In some prisons, the administration even has to fence the “goats” and move them into separate barracks.
In the red zones, the goats take advantage of the administration’s relaxation; they can even set up their own “common fund”, and in some prisons the “ssucheny” can even regulate the lives of other prisoners.
In ordinary life, a word such as goat, expressed as a curse against another person, has a slightly different, more harmless meaning than the same word would be uttered in the zone.
After all, they call assholes those prisoners who cooperate with the administration, hold some positions, join amateur groups, etc.
If, out of ignorance, in a fit of anger, you call a prisoner a goat, who in essence is not one (for example, he is a criminal or a peasant), then you can very painfully answer for your words.
Prisoners who become “goats” in the zone remain so until the end of their sentence. They are despised by men and thieves, they do not join the “common fund” with them, such persons keep themselves apart from others.
In modern society, it is not customary to divide people into any groups, classes or castes. However, this rule does not apply to places of deprivation of liberty, where for many decades there has been a strict classification of convicts into unique groups (or, as they say in the zone, suits).
Prison suits
Zone suits are the division of all prisoners into unique groups that differ from each other in prison status, rights and concepts.
In absolutely any prison or colony, there is a clear distinction between all prisoners into certain groups or stripes: “thieves”, “men”, “goats” and “roosters”. There are also so-called intermediate groups, which vary depending on the specific place of deprivation of liberty. Such “intermediate” castes include “roosters”, “lowered”, “offended” and others.
The suits in the zone are fairly closed groups, and it is almost impossible to move from one caste to another.
Penitentiary institutions of Russia
Calling a person a goat in a colony means causing him a serious insult. And any prisoner will answer it, because otherwise he will be recognized as a representative of this caste. They often respond to such treatment with force, and can even kill. This is especially true of situations when one of the thieves is called a goat. For him, punishing the offender is a matter of honor.
Prisoners belonging to the goat group prefer to call themselves activists, reds, independent men or positive. But the prisoners never call them goats.
Each caste has its own hierarchy within. The prison subculture is extremely conservative; vertical transitions (increasing status) are practically impossible. Today is Friday evening - on which I congratulate everyone. It's time to drink some beer and listen to some interesting stories. I’ll continue the series about Zonov’s staff - today, probably the most interesting part awaits you - SDP members, goats, goats. Ready? Well then let's go.
The administration of the colony calls the goats “active”, activists, people who are firmly on the path of correction. Of course, the other prisoners treat the goats badly.
This group of prisoners is considered neutral and quite large. And if we talk about who a “man” is, this is the prisoner who, at the end of his sentence, will forget everything like a “bad dream” and will try not to return to the zone again.
In Soviet times, such authorities were prohibited from having a family or being a member of any political party.
Very often, for example, during a search, colony officers can “snatch” from you those things that the goat will point out - now many will write: “This is illegal!” - when you stand doggy style and they shine a flashlight between your buns to see if the corner of an iPhone flashes there - I don’t think that you will be indignant that they snatch a pack of tea or a carton of cigarettes from you. So it goes.
Considering such features of the position of a goat in prison, it should not be confused with a similar insult in the wild. In the zone, you will have to answer for this word, said without proper grounds.
Among the “men” there are, of course, prisoners whom the “thieves” respect and even listen to their opinions. A special group of “thieves” are the so-called thieves in law. These are recognized crime bosses. Moreover, they do not necessarily have to engage in theft. A “thief in law” is a person who has an impeccable criminal reputation, correct concepts and strictly adheres to the laws of thieves.
In families where parents are the main friends, children know only by hearsay what the prison jargon of fartu suit can mean.
And nothing - a section on documents existed - I kept fake meeting journals where other “readers” and I discussed the works we had read. In short, all these sections are window dressing.
That's not what they call themselves. They replace the word “thieves” with “lads”, “prisoners”, “tramps”, “tramps”, “swindlers”, “travelers”, and half a century ago they called themselves “zhigans”, “people”.. These are professional criminals.
Zone suits are the division of all prisoners into unique groups that differ from each other in prison status, rights and concepts.
The first, highest caste is the thieves; the second, most numerous - men; the third, more or less large (depending on the zone) - goats; fourth, lowest - roosters, outcasts. I don’t know whether outcasts can be considered a separate caste, but this is an academic question.
In absolutely any prison or colony, there is a clear distinction between all prisoners into certain groups or stripes: “thieves”, “men”, “goats” and “roosters”. There are also so-called intermediate groups, which vary depending on the specific place of deprivation of liberty. Such “intermediate” castes include “roosters”, “lowered”, “offended” and others.
Often, quarrels subside even before arriving at the zone, so some prisoners use this for their own purposes and “punish”, and upon arrival in the zone they behave as quietly as water, below the grass.
"Authorities" of the zone
The most significant, important and honorable suit in the zone is “thieves”. This caste is the smallest, and you can’t just get into it. So, who is the “thieves”?
“Blatnye” are real, almost unlimited power in the zone. It is the members of this group who establish the unwritten rules of behavior in places of deprivation of liberty, monitor order in the zone, resolve conflict situations that arise between prisoners, and punish the “offenders” to the fullest extent of prison law.
A special group of “thieves” are the so-called thieves in law. These are recognized crime bosses. Moreover, they do not necessarily have to engage in theft. A “thief in law” is a person who has an impeccable criminal reputation, correct concepts and strictly adheres to the laws of thieves.
If we answer the question of who a “blatnoy” is, then we can say that this is an authority who behaves “correctly” not only in the zone, but also did not have any “jambs” in freedom. For example, “thieves” should not serve in the army; when free, they should not hold leadership positions or work in the service sector (taxi drivers, waiters). In Soviet times, such authorities were prohibited from having a family or being a member of any political party.
A brief dictionary of thieves' jargon of the criminal world
This is not quite a dictionary, but also not quite a list of “slang” words, of which there are so many on the Internet. Here are just some words from thieves' jargon.
Words that in prison jargon have a different meaning than in the common spoken language, o, professional slang of employees of correctional institutions and operational services of internal affairs bodies (UR, BEP, BOP, NON) - with the letter “s”, official terms and abbreviations - with the letter “o” " Authority (t) - a representative of the highest group in the informal hierarchy of prisoners.
The informal order operating in the zone is extremely authoritarian in nature, therefore the real situation that develops in the shadow life of a correctional institution, pre-trial detention center or part thereof (cell, PKT, punishment cell, etc.) is determined by the personal qualities of the authorities in power and the presence of connections with the authorities in will or in other ITUs, as well as the tactics followed by local emergency services workers. In general conversation
What does the word “goat” mean in thieves’ slang???
a person who watches his mother being raped (heard this somewhere) Kozel (t) - a representative of a group in the informal hierarchy of prisoners, formed on the basis of: open cooperation (in the present or past) with the administration of the correctional facility. This group emerged from the prison community in the 1960s.
Unlike the activist of the 30-50s, the status of a goat becomes almost permanent for a prisoner and accompanies him throughout his entire stay in prison. The appearance of the goat caste is apparently connected with the reaction of the prison subculture to the penitentiary policy of the Soviet government in the early 60s. A formal act that includes a prisoner in the caste of goats may be joining “amateur organizations of convicts,” agreeing to take a position or perform work considered shameful by correct concepts.
All this is a necessary condition for receiving a number of benefits.
Foremost
The leader of the "thieves" is the "godfather" - a recognized criminal authority. If there is no such person in the zone, then a “supervisor” is appointed - a prisoner who performs the functions of a leader.
The “godfather” and his associates (that is, the “thieves”) have special privileges in the zone. They may not work and keep whatever they deem necessary from the common fund.
In the modern world, many “thieves” in the zone interact with the administration of the correctional institution and establish those orders that are beneficial to the leadership of the colony. In return, the “thieves” are given comfortable living conditions (they secretly receive alcohol, marijuana, telephones and other benefits). Although this does not correspond to thieves’ concepts, market relations now reign in the zone.
Who are the goats, the red ones in the zone - ZONA
For example, the game of dominoes, known by this name in the wild, is called “one hundred and one” in prison; telling another that he has something knitted from goat hair means insulting him.
A prisoner in a normal conversation will never say such phrases as “asked a question”, “answer questions” or “I’m asking you” - this does not correspond to thieves’ etiquette. The word “ask” is not used in an ordinary bazaar; “demand” is used only in a serious bazaar. Instead, you can say “drive away interest.”
If there is no real thief in the zone, the world of thieves tries to send there a “supervisor,” that is, its representative, who will ensure that the prisoners comply with the thieves’ law and the thieves’ orders.
Who is "the man"?
“Men” are perhaps the largest and most neutral group of prisoners. It includes prisoners who received sentences for committing minor crimes. As a rule, these are completely random people in prison: having entered the zone once, they try to get free as quickly as possible and return to normal life in the wild.
The indicated suit in the zone has no authority. “Men” do not take part in showdowns, do not have the right to vote and do not interfere in the affairs of “thieves”. They do not cooperate with the prison administration, but they also do not serve the authorities of the zone.
Among the “men” there are, of course, prisoners whom the “thieves” respect and even listen to their opinions.
This group of prisoners is considered neutral and quite large. And if we talk about who a “man” is, this is the prisoner who, at the end of his sentence, will forget everything like a “bad dream” and will try not to return to the zone again.
"Goats" is...
If it is an honor to belong to the two stripes described above, then to be included in the caste of “goats” means to put yourself against the rest of the prisoners. As a rule, this suit includes those prisoners who, of their own free will (and in some cases, under duress) began to cooperate with the administration of the correctional institution.
So, if a prisoner agreed to take the position of a prison librarian or caretaker, then he automatically fell into the caste of “goats”. Convicts belonging to this suit actively cooperate with prison management, carrying out all their instructions. In this regard, the rest of the prisoners treat them as traitors.
This situation deprives the “goats” of the right to participate in prison disputes, they are not allowed to enter the “common fund”, they do not have the right to vote. Meanwhile, you can greet representatives of this suit, you can touch them and, if desired, you can communicate with them.
Goat is... Meaning of the word
The meaning of the word “goat” in its literal sense is known and understandable, perhaps, to every person. But it turns out that the matter is not limited to this. “Goat” is a word that has many other interpretations. It is used, for example, as an expletive, as slang, as an aviation term. Let us consider the shades of its meanings in more detail.
Polysemy of the term
There are many meanings for the word “goat” in dictionaries. These include:
- A horned male is a domestic or wild ruminant animal that belongs to the class of mammals and the family of bovids. (Sasha found information in the encyclopedia that the Siberian mountain goat is the main prey of leopards).
- In sports, a gymnastic apparatus used to perform a vault, differing from a horse in that it is shorter in length and does not have handles. (Andrei was extremely upset - in physical education class he once again failed to jump over the goat).
- In metallurgy, the name for solidified cast iron that remains on the walls of a blast furnace. (The master explained to the students: “It’s no wonder that after thirty years of work in the forge of a blast furnace, over time a crust weighing 300 tons was formed, and it’s called a “goat”).
- In aviation, a term similar to “jumping,” which refers to the jumping of an airplane during its landing. (Despite the experience of the pilot, it was still not possible to avoid the high-speed goat during landing).
- One of the chemical-technological terms that is used to describe defects formed during the production of cast plexiglass is similar to the term “fish eye”. (Unfortunately, the last batch of plexiglass was not without a goat).
- One of the variants of the symbols of Satan in devil mania. (On his left forearm the guy had a tattoo depicting Baphomet, which is the official symbol of the Church of Satan, which is popularly called a goat).
However, the ambiguity of the word we are considering does not end there. But it is already in a slightly different area than those discussed above - this is the “conversational genre” and jargon.
Among other meanings, “goats” appear to us in the following guises:
- In a figurative sense, this is a swear word that means a slow-witted, mean-spirited and very unpleasant person. (Marina instructed her son in a stern voice: “Remember, Yura, even if a person is unpleasant to you, has done something bad to you, this is not a reason to stoop to his level and call him a goat.”
- This is the name of the Soviet all-terrain vehicle GAZ-69, as well as the UAZ-469. (Finally, the necessary advertisement was found in the newspaper: “I am selling a frame for GAZ-69 (goat), we will agree on the price”).
- The name of the game is dominoes and also cards. (An article on the Internet said that learning to play goat in dominoes is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance).
- The name of the person who lost in the specified game. (Sergei was already tired of being a goat, and he decided to quit playing dominoes for today).
In plural
When this word is used in the plural - “goats”, it also means the following:
- The front part of a horse-drawn carriage on which the driver sits. (“Sanka, don’t sleep, move, sit down on the box quickly, otherwise we’ll be late,” the lady went bankrupt).
- A construction device used when working at low heights. (“Guys, be careful on the trestles there, the height is still quite high,” the elderly foreman carefully admonished the builders).
- A device used for sawing wood. (Having laid out the firewood on the trestles and busily rubbing his hands, the stocky man prepared to prepare firewood for the winter).
- A device that is used when driving on roads that do not have a hard surface. (On country roads they use rolls for driving cattle, called “goats”).
Phraseologisms
Here are examples of phraseological units and stable phrases with the word being studied:
- High-speed (non-speed) goat - in aviation, a jump of an aircraft during landing at an increased (reduced or normal) speed.
- Standing on a sawhorse is a colloquial, slang expression for raising the front wheels of a vehicle - a car, bicycle, motorcycle.
- To tear a goat is, in common parlance, to sing ineptly, in an unpleasant voice.
- To score a goat is a slang term for playing dominoes.
- Like milk from a goat - a saying denoting the insufficiency of the benefit brought, the return.
- Local collapse is the technical term for a partial collapse that occurs in a reactor core.
- Letting a goat into the garden is a saying that hints that it is undesirable to allow a person to go where he can act in his own selfish interests.
- Construction goat - see above.
Let us consider separately the widespread expression “scapegoat”, the meaning of which, however, is not clear to everyone. This phrase, taken from the Old Testament, implies that the goat in this case is a special animal. After a symbolic Jewish ritual, during which the sins of the entire people were, as it were, laid upon him, he was taken into the desert.
In Christian theologians, for example in John the Baptist, one can find an interpretation of this phrase as a prototype of the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ, called the Lamb of God and taking upon himself of his own free will all the sins of the world. Today they say this about a person whom they want to make guilty without guilt.
You wouldn't wish it on your enemy
The suits in the zone are unchanged. You cannot move from a lower caste to a more authoritative one. So, a “goat” will never become a “man” or a “thieve.” But you can get into the lowest caste.
A suit like “rooster” is a real nightmare for a prisoner. For prisoners who fall into this caste, life in the zone is not easy, to put it mildly. This group of prisoners is also called “offended”, “dismissed”, “untouchables”. This suit includes passive homosexuals and prisoners punished by having sexual intercourse with them. Moreover, the sexual act itself may not take place: the prisoner can simply pass the genital organ across the lips, and from that moment on he will be considered a “rooster.”
Representatives of this suit are outcasts: you cannot touch them, you cannot take anything from them. “Roosters” use separate utensils and have a separate sleeping place (usually at the entrance to the cell). It is not customary to talk to them. “Roosters” are prohibited from approaching other prisoners closer than three steps. They are the ones who do the dirtiest work in prison - they clean toilets and wash the parade ground.
However, when “roosters” are “consumed” (this is what they say in the zone), this is not considered any kind of defiling contact.
There is also an ominous “tradition” of making holes in plates, spoons and mugs of “roosters”. In order for a prisoner belonging to this caste to eat or drink, it is necessary to plug the holes with his fingers. And this is the most harmless humiliation of those to which the “roosters” are subjected.
Prison laws are very strict and cruel. Therefore, the slightest deviation from established norms of behavior inevitably leads to punishment. Thus, having once become a “rooster”, a person is deprived of the right to human treatment in prison and is subjected to humiliation until the end of his sentence. Not everyone can withstand this, which is why many prisoners who fall into the “rooster” caste commit suicide.
The meaning of the word GOAT in the Dictionary of Thieves' Jargon
GOAT - 1) a passive homosexual, 2) a social activist in an educational institution, 3) a bicycle Dictionary of thieves' jargon.
2012 → → in the Dictionary of Russian Railway Slang: a carriage incorrectly released on a hill. It is pulled out by a diesel locomotive, while the compiler carefully shows the horns to the operator ... in the Slang Dictionary of Sevastopol: A method of diving into water. There is also “nail”, “plywood”, “winged”, “glitch”, “shark”, “bracket”, “school”, “crocodile”, “mistrust”, “aboriginal”, “toilet”, “koldyba”, “bomb”, “partisan grandmother”, ... in the Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology: In the mythology and views of the ancient Celts, the goat was considered a symbol of fertility.
The goat was often depicted next to the Roman-Celtic god Mercury, and the goat ... in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron: (female - goat, Capra) - a genus of ruminants from the group of bovids.
Sometimes it happens
The above-mentioned suits are available in all zones and prisons. However, some places of detention have their own specific, so-called intermediate castes.
There are especially many such castes in the zone where juvenile criminals are kept. On the “youngster”, in addition to the castes already indicated, there are such suits as:
- “forshmaki”, which includes prisoners who have committed some minor offense in the zone due to ignorance of the rules and norms of behavior;
- “devils” - that is, those prisoners who were caught stealing from their cellmates;
- “shnyri” who act as servants;
- “laundresses”, “oil presses”, “shortages” and others.
In some adult zones, unique podcasts are common. For example, “thieves”, which includes prisoners who form the “retinue” of the “thieves” (while they themselves are not criminals). Or the “scoundrels” caste, which includes “thieves” prisoners who have committed some disgusting act.
Goat meaning of the word in thieves' jargon. Prison castes
In our prison world there are several castes, that is, groups of prisoners of different “dignity”. There are four main castes, and there can be many more intermediate castes in each zone (by the way, this is exactly what they say among prisoners: in prison, in zone).
The first, highest caste is the thieves; the second, most numerous - men; the third, more or less large (depending on the zone) - goats; fourth, lowest - roosters, outcasts. I don’t know whether outcasts can be considered a separate caste, but this is an academic question. And we will assume that there are four castes.
Let's start from the top. Thieves. That's not what they call themselves. They replace the word “blatnoy” with “lads”, “prisoners”, “tramps”, “tramps”, “swindlers”, “travelers”, and half a century ago they called themselves “zhigans”, “people”.
These are professional criminals.
For them, prisons and camps are mandatory stages of their professional career. Our criminal world is a special world; it is very difficult, almost impossible, for an outsider to get there.
Live “according to concepts”
Whatever suit the prisoner belongs to, he is obliged to comply with Zonov’s concepts. Concepts are established standards of behavior for prisoners in places of deprivation of liberty. Strict adherence to these unwritten rules helps to avoid conflict and sometimes life-threatening situations.
Prison laws (or concepts) are very similar to the norms of life in freedom. The paradox is that often prisoners who violated the law in freedom (for example, stole), in places of deprivation of liberty strictly adhere to the “don’t steal” rule.
Zonov’s basic concepts boil down to the following: don’t “knock” and don’t steal from your own people (that is, from fellow prisoners), don’t let “words go to waste” (if you threaten someone, you must punish them; otherwise, they will punish you for chattering) .
In the zone, you cannot interfere in other people’s affairs and conversations, impose your opinion, lie and swear (since the demand for any spoken word in prison is much greater than in freedom).
You shouldn’t be greedy in prison: it’s customary to share with your fellow inmates. And, of course, you shouldn’t put yourself above others, because this can lead to dire consequences.
Strange norms
Some zones have very strange laws. This is especially true of colonies that house juvenile offenders. For example, you cannot lift anything from the floor, you cannot finish smoking a cigarette behind prisoners who are members of lower prison castes.
There are some prisons where they can let you go just because a prisoner went to the toilet and didn’t wash his hands or mended his socks.
There are also colonies in which it is customary to wash in the bathhouse with two washcloths - one to the waist, the second for everything else. A towel, which is commonly called a “waffle” towel, is considered a “checkered towel” in the zone. And it will be very bad for the prisoner who does not know this rule.
The "red" zone. Black zone
Not only the prisoners themselves are divided by color, but also the places where they are kept. All zones are divided into “black” and “red”.
“Reds” are those prisons in which rigid “cop” concepts prevail. In such prisons, interaction between prisoners and the administration of the correctional institution is strongly encouraged. Life here proceeds according to the rules of the zone leadership.
“Black” prisons (which are the majority in Russia) are those correctional institutions in which everything is based on thieves’ concepts and prison laws. Here the suits in the zone are of great importance. It is considered a waste to cooperate with the administration of such a colony.
In the “black” zones, prisoners who “knock” to the management are classified as “goats” (they are also called “red”). “Red” in the zone will never be able to live in peace, since he will be hated by all other prisoners and will be considered a traitor.
Finally
Over many decades, clear and strict rules and norms of behavior for prisoners have been formed in places of deprivation of liberty. Violation of established rules leads prisoners to punishment, which most often consists of transfer to the lowest prison caste.
And if for an ordinary law-abiding citizen such a punishment seems childish, then for the inhabitants of the zone it is the most severe and severe punishment. After all, the safe and calm serving of a sentence directly depends on what color the prisoner belongs to.
Despite the fact that modern society and worldview have introduced many innovations into prison life, there are things that still remain unchanged - these are prison castes (suits), thieves' laws and concepts.
Hierarchy of prison castes
In penitentiary institutions of the countries of the former USSR, there are 4 main categories (“suits”) of prisoners, as well as various intermediate groups. A characteristic feature of this hierarchy is the ease of transition from a higher caste to a lower one (this transition is called “lowering”, although this word is usually used in a narrower sense - transferring a prisoner to the “rooster” caste). At the same time, the transition in the opposite direction is usually very difficult or completely impossible. For example, to become a rooster, a prisoner only needs to sit in the dining room at the “rooster” table, while there is no way to move from a rooster to another caste.
Blatnye
Blatnye are the highest caste in the hierarchy. These are usually professional criminals. Often it is the thieves who have the real power in a prison or zone. There are many requirements for applicants for the status of “blatny”: for example, a prisoner who served in the army, worked as a waiter, taxi driver and other servants (that is, the so-called “Chaldean”) could not become a criminal, although recently some of these requirements softened or were completely cancelled. Thieves, as a rule, do not work in the zone; where this is allowed, the criminal should not hold any official position (in this case he automatically becomes a “goat”). The thieves have the right to take from the “common fund” everything they deem necessary, but at the same time they are obliged to take care of supplying the zone through illegal channels with food, tea, alcohol, etc., and resolve disputes that arise between prisoners from the point of view of unwritten criminal “laws” “(according to these laws, “correct” prisoners in the event of conflicts can only turn to thieves, and in no case to the administration of places of detention). At the same time, the criminal must act “according to concepts”, otherwise he may be omitted.
The thieves themselves, as a rule, do not call themselves thieves, but “prisoners,” “tramps,” “travelers,” etc.
"Guys"
Men are the largest group of prisoners. As a rule, they end up in prison more or less accidentally and expect to return to normal life after serving their sentence. They work, do not claim informal power and do not cooperate with the prison administration. At “showdowns” between thieves, men do not have the right to vote (although thieves can listen to the opinions of the most respected “men”).
"Goats"
Goats are prisoners who openly collaborate with the administration and occupy some position (supply manager, librarian, etc.). They do not enjoy the respect of other prisoners and are not accepted into the “common fund” (although sometimes the “goats” organize their own “common fund”). In some zones or prisons, “goats” have to be collected in separate cells due to the hostile attitude towards them. At the same time, communicating with “goats” and touching them is not prohibited.
The word "goat" and its derivatives are (for prisoners who are not) serious insults; As a rule, the “goats” themselves, as well as other prisoners, in their presence (with calm relations between them and the “goats”) use the words “reds”, “activists”, etc.
"Roosters"
Roosters or lowered ones are the lowest caste. Its representatives have no rights, they do the dirtiest work and can be used by other prisoners for sexual gratification. Roosters are untouchable: other prisoners are not allowed to touch them (except for sexual contact), and also (in most cases) objects that have been in their hands (violation of this prohibition usually leads to transfer to roosters). People end up in prison for gross violations of prison “laws,” some crimes of a sexual nature, “disgraceful” sexual contacts, etc.
The word "rooster" and all words associated with this bird ("comb", "crow", etc.) are also strictly taboo, their use to a prisoner who is not a rooster is a grave insult, which can even lead to killing or putting down the offender.
"Devils"
The devil is worse than a rooster. He does all the prisoners' dirty work. At present, the caste of “devils” is preserved only among the “youngsters”. These are prisoners who perform some kind of work for pay, usually for thieves. In adult zones, “devils” live as “men.” A caste similar to the muzhiks in the “youngsters” is the “middle peasants.” In the prison hierarchy, they are somewhat lower than the “muzhik”, mainly due to the lack of voting rights.
Other groups
Some groups of prisoners “fall out” for one reason or another from the main hierarchy and occupy a separate position. These include:
Woolen - prisoners carrying out “lawlessness” at the direction of the prison administration in the so-called. “press huts”, for example, beating and raping other prisoners for the purpose of punishment, obtaining the necessary evidence, etc. “Wool” are often former thieves who grossly violated the thieves’ “law” and were sentenced to death or “lowering” for this. If the “woolen” one falls into the hands of the “right” prisoners, he is usually released or killed.
Chushki are prisoners who do not take care of themselves, do not wash themselves, and dress untidy. Their position is in many ways similar to that of roosters.
Who is a goat according to concepts? How the prison hierarchy works in a Russian prison
Goat, goat, goat's face and other derivatives of the word "goat" are insulting words. But if in ordinary life a person who has been called an asshole may not react in any way to an offensive word, then in prison this spoken word may even cost the life of the one who uttered it.
Under the boss there is something like a presidential team, several thieves, each of whom does his own thing: one looks after the men, another looks after the “common fund” (that’s the name of the common prison treasury), the third looks after something else.
The circle closes, the guys, having tasted the romance of thieves, find themselves in a network, from which it is no longer easy to escape.
Among the Aueshnik caste there are not only representatives of lower social groups of the population. Ordinary youth, seeing the lawlessness happening in their country, first begin to be indignant, and later begin to hate the police. People in uniform have not inspired trust for a long time.
One of the main principles of Aue fans is the mutual responsibility of the prison. Thinking about logging out? Not so easy. The most harmless thing is to earn a reputation as “low” (insults and humiliation, sometimes violence).
The gene responsible for polledness is inherited. In some varieties of dairy goats it is dominant (predominant over others). This means that representatives of this breed almost always give birth to hornless goats. In approximately 10-20% of cases, polled purebred animals can also give birth to horned offspring, which is not a breeding marriage.
Male goat. K. with a beard and horns. 2. Branno. About a person who causes hostility, irritation. Old k.! 3. pl.: goats, -ov. Genus of artiodactyl mammals of the family. bovids, living mainly in the mountains.
Swamp goats have short fur. The coat color is red-brown, with the underbelly and throat patch being white.