Gop-stop is street robbery, and GOP is the state hostel of the proletariat

The history of the origin of the concept of "gop-stop" raises a lot of controversy, but most people associate with it in a lightning speed: the street twilight, the company tipsy punks and the crown request to give a light. However, she has many options: from "let me call" to "lend two rubles." The request, as a rule, is followed by the requirements to give money, a wallet, phone or other valuables. If a person does not agree, then fists, beats, and sometimes cold weapons are used. At times, the marginals without a preliminary talk strike, take money and disappear. The association is absolutely correct. Gop-stop - this is a robbery, theft, an armed attack to steal someone else's property, often accompanied by causing the victim physical harm. There are several versions of the origin of this concept. Let's make a short digression into history and trace its etymology.

Prerequisites for the emergence

One version of the appearance of the concept of "gop-stop" calls us to go to Petrograd at the end of the XIX century. It was there, at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and Ligovskaya Street, an orphanage appeared, which was popularly called the GOP. Now, few know what that means. The abbreviation stands for "City Society of the Prize". There were sent beggars, tramps, cripples, street children and adolescents. Many of them already at that time were engaged in marginal activities of various kinds. The state did not have enough money for a full maintenance of the shelter. Over time, it turned into a simple doss house, and attacks on people and robbery finally became the norm. The criminal activity in the area of Ligovskaya Street, due to the large accumulation of a criminal element in the shelter, has increased many times. Its inhabitants were already called Gopnik. But the wide spread of the word has not yet received. These events, perhaps, became a prerequisite for the emergence of the concept of "gop-stop" in the future.

History of origin

After the October Revolution of 1917, the shelter was transformed into the "State Hostel of the Proletariat". However, the domestic political situation in the country - a coup d'état and a civil war - made this building a much more dangerous place than before. The level of child crime has increased. The criminal apparatus as a whole became more active. The city was filled with visitors. Many of them, as well as marginals and lumpen, were settled in the GOP. It was then that Ligovka became notorious. Crime and prostitution flourished there. In this area, more or less well-off people appeared dangerously: they could not only be robbed, but also killed. At that time the word "Gopnik" was widely used. It took on a sharply negative color and became associated with people from the bottom, vagabonds stealing civilians. At the same time, the word "gop-stop" appeared. It was perceived by society as "street robbery," a sudden attack, followed by theft of money. Proceeding from all the above, it can be assumed that the words "gopnik" and "gop-stop" are related.

Etymology

Although this version of the emergence of the concept of "gop-stop" seems pretty convincing, not all support it. There is another assumption about the origin of this jargon. It is primarily connected with the word "gop" and its original meaning. V. Dal interpreted it as a "leap" or "blow". And in the dictionary of SI Ozhegov it is stated that "gop" is an encouraging exclamation when jumping. According to the same thieves' slang, "gop-stop" is a lightning attack aimed at stealing a man. Indeed, street punks used to jump on people, to disorient them, then to steal. At the same time, one could often hear a cry: "Gop-Stop!" The first part of the word meant an attack, the second - the demand to stop. In support of this interpretation of jargon, it is possible to indicate the phrase "gop with a coter" related in a certain sense. It appeared much earlier and had the meaning of "attack, steal and disappear." They also associate the term "gop-stop" with the verb "gopat". What does this mean? The word is interpreted by the authors of the dictionaries in the following way: "jump", "jump", and also "hang about, wander for no purpose", "spend the night on the street." This relationship can confirm both versions of the origin of the concept of "gop-stop".

Further history

Each version has the right to exist. It is interesting that they do not exclude each other, rather they can be considered as complementary. Since the beginning of the concept of "gop-stop" a lot of time has passed. And the border between the versions has practically erased. The very word "gop-stop" never completely disappeared from the urban environment, although the number of Gopnik then decreased, it increased. This is due primarily to the socio-economic conditions in the country. The lower the standard of living, the more gopnik. Along with the 20-heyday of the subculture, the 40s and 90s are considered. In these years, the concept of "gop-stop" became topical. Its meaning remained unchanged. In mass use the word came in thanks to the press and all the famous song by A. Rosenbaum "Gop-stop, we came from around the corner", published in the 70's. There is also the view that due to the mentioned work the concept leaked from the thieves' milieu into the world of mere mortals.

Use

Now the exclamation "Gop-stop!" Is almost nowhere to be heard. It is rarely used, and then in order to attract attention. However, theft on the street is still called just "gop-stop". This word is part of some phraseological expressions. "To go to the gop-stop" means "to find a victim and rob", but to "take a gop-stop" - "rob". From this lexical unit new verbs and nouns are formed. So, a thief can call not only gopnik, but also gopstopnikom, and his actions are characterized by the verb "goppopnut."

Who goes to the gop-stop?

People who are engaged in gop-stop, rank as a youth subculture, which has its own distinctive features. They wear branded sports clothes, often they are cut "under a zero". Gopnikov can be seen in the doorways, entrances or simply on the street. They are usually lightly drunk or lightly smoked, often squatting. Gopnik are distinguished by defiant behavior and provoke conflicts. Their speech consists of words-parasites and obscene lexicon. In the evening and at night they go to the gop-stop. This is a robbery, to which Gopnik, as a rule, do not go empty-handed. With them they have a bit, knife or brass knuckles. Now this subculture is going through a period of decline, but you can still hear the phrase: "The local gop-stop is again running in the entranceway."