noun General Slang

Britva

/ˈbrɪtvə/ · noun · slang

Nadsat for a razor, the gang's weapon of choice, from the Russian 'britva'.

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Definitions

1

Closely linked to the gang's violence and street fights.

“He flicked open his britva and the other gang backed away.”
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2

In Nadsat, a britva is a razor, especially a cut-throat razor used as a weapon. Source word: Russian 'britva' (бритва), literally 'razor'.

“Each droog carried a britva tucked inside his jacket.”
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3

Part of Nadsat's weapon vocabulary that frames brutality in cool, clipped terms.

“A britva does quiet work, Alex notes with chilling calm.”
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Britva In A Sentence

The glint of a britva ended the standoff fast.
He kept his britva sharp and close at hand.
One flash of the britva and the veck fled.

Origin & Usage

Coined by Burgess in A Clockwork Orange (1962) from the Russian 'britva', 'razor'. It is among the Nadsat terms that make the gang's weapons sound almost glamorous.

Variants britvas
Tags #nadsat#clockwork-orange#fictional#literary#weapons

People Also Ask

What does britva mean?

It is Nadsat for a razor, often used as a weapon, from the Russian 'britva'.

Where did britva come from?

Anthony Burgess coined it for A Clockwork Orange in 1962 from the Russian word for razor.

What is a britva used for in the novel?

Alex and his droogs carry britvas as weapons in their street fights and attacks.

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