Moskal


Moskal also known as Muscal, is a historical designation used for the residents of the Grand Duchy of Moscow from the 12th-18th centuries. Today, it is used as an ethnic slur for ethnic Russians from Russia proper by Ukrainians, Belarusians and Poles in their respective countries. The term is generally considered to be derogatory or condescending and reciprocal to the term "khokhol" for Ukrainians as used by Russians. Another Ukrainian ethnic slur for Russians is , meaning bearded.

History and etymology

Initially, as early as the 12th century, moskal referred to the residents of "Moscovia", the word literally translating as "Muscovite", Red Ruthenia. With time, the word became an archaism in all the East Slavic languages, and survived only as a family name in each of those languages—see below.
The negative connotation, however, came in around the late 18th-early 19th centuries in the form of an ethnic slur labelling all Russians. At that time, soldiers of the Imperial Russian Army stationed in parts of present-day Ukraine and Poland became known as moskale.

Cultural influence

"Moskal" is a stock character of the traditional Ukrainian puppet theatre form, vertep.
Moskaliki is a Ukrainian designation for small fish typically used as bait or as a casual snack.
It also gave rise to a number of East Slavic family names.