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Definition of matryoshka

matryoshka

/ˌmæt.riˈoʊʃ.kə/
mat · ry · osh · ka
Plural:matryoshkas
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matryoshka Lexical Profile

matryoshka Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A traditional Russian wooden doll of decreasing size placed one inside another, typically painted to resemble a peasant woman in a headscarf.

Example

"She opened the largest matryoshka on the shelf to reveal five smaller hand-painted dolls nested neatly inside."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for matryoshka

• Nearby Words

matrix
matron
matronly
matryoshka
matte
matted
matter

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Russian матрёшка (matryoshka), a diminutive form of the female given name Matryona, which ultimately derives from Latin matrona ('matron' or 'mother'). The first such doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin and painted by Sergey Malyutin.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Matryoshka. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/matryoshka
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