# Endnotes explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Vsevolod Garshin.

## What happens

This chapter provides explanatory notes on various terms and cultural references used throughout the book, including descriptions of Russian household roles, currency, measurements, and local customs.

## Key lines

> A yard porter. Each house has one or more dvorniks , whose duties are to cut and carry firewood, etc. They are also responsible for the cleanliness of the street and pavement immediately adjoining the house, and must assist the police.

A dvornik is a yard porter employed by each house to cut and carry firewood, keep the adjacent street and pavement clean, and assist the police.

_Definition of dvornik._

> A squadron of cavalry (applied to Cossack troops only).

A sotnia is a cavalry squadron specific to Cossack troops.

_Definition of sotnia._

> A humble kind of eating-house frequented by the working classes.

A traktir is a modest eatery popular among the working class.

_Definition of traktir._

> A silver coin of the value and size of sixpence.

A zolotnik is a silver coin worth and sized like a sixpence.

_Definition of zolotnik._

> A cabman; used indifferently to mean the man or his conveyance.

An izvozchik refers to both a cab driver and his vehicle.

_Definition of izvozchik._

> A hole cut out in the ice.

A prorub is a hole cut through ice.

_Definition of prorub._

> A framed pane of glass in a window. It is on hinges, and can be opened for ventilation purposes when the window itself is hermetically sealed up for the winter.

A fortochka is a hinged glass pane in a window used for ventilation when the main window is sealed for winter.

_Definition of fortochka._

> The people’s name for St. Petersburg.

Piter is the popular name for St. Petersburg.

_Definition of Piter._

> Around 44° Celsius, or 111° Fahrenheit.

Approximately 44°C or 111°F.

_Temperature conversion._

> Around 35° Celsius, or 95° Fahrenheit.

Approximately 35°C or 95°F.

_Temperature conversion._

> An arshin equals 2½ feet (approximately).

One arshin is about 2.5 feet.

_Length conversion._

> Around 4.4 centimetres.

Approximately 4.4 cm.

_Length conversion._

> The generic name of all officials, but more usually applied to the smaller class of Government officials. Is often used in contempt.

Chinovnik is a generic term for officials, especially minor government ones, often used contemptuously.

_Definition of chinovnik._

> Around 44° Celsius, or 111° Fahrenheit.

Approximately 44°C or 111°F.

_Temperature conversion (repeated)._

> A dessiatine equals 2.7 acres.

One dessiatine is equivalent to 2.7 acres.

_Land area conversion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_56_se/chapters/endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_56_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_56_se/chapters