General
krovvy
What does krovvy mean?
Often used to describe the aftermath of the gang's violence in vivid, almost gleeful terms.
"Alex describes the krovvy as flowing real horrorshow and red."
Origin
Coined by Burgess in A Clockwork Orange (1962) from the Russian 'krov', 'blood'. Like much of Nadsat, it makes brutality sound strange and almost lyrical on the page.
Frequently asked questions
What does krovvy mean?
It is Nadsat for blood, from the Russian 'krov'.
Where did krovvy come from?
Anthony Burgess coined it for A Clockwork Orange in 1962 from the Russian word for blood.
Why does Burgess use krovvy instead of blood?
The unfamiliar word distances the reader from the violence, a key effect of the Nadsat argot.
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