A Russian official who manages a courtyard, building, or public space and supervises servants or workers.
From Russian 'dvor' meaning 'courtyard' or 'court,' with the suffix '-nik' denoting a person. The word originated in Medieval Russia to describe administrative officials overseeing palace or estate grounds.
The dvornik was such an important role in Russian life that Dostoevsky and other classic authors featured them in novels—they were gatekeepers who knew all the neighborhood gossip and secrets!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.