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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurbash

Название произошло от тюркских (узбекских и т.п.) слов «кирк» — сорок и «боши» — начальник. То есть, в современном понимании это название соответствует должности командира эскадрона, «сотника». Под руководством «курбаши» могло находиться несколько отрядов общей численностью в несколько сот человек. (http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B8)

Edited Date: 2009-05-05 05:02 am (UTC)

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курбаши is a Central Asian word for big boss (with, presumably, most unpleasant personal characteristics, likely to treat people who report to him as his personal slaves, disregarding their human dignity etc.) It has nothing to do with posing, backs, blows or fists. The entire phrase can be translated as:
"Even if it is not difficult [for you to do that], why do you allow him to behave as a boor and treat people like dirt?"

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I don't think this is the right answer.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B8

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Oh, you managed to edit it while I was writing my comment :-)

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This is why I thought курбаш(и) meant "a blow with a fist to the back": http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enc2p/260334

Thanks for the help!

Edited Date: 2009-05-05 05:05 am (UTC)

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I edited my comment a minute before I received yours:))
I think it is just interesting to see how different, yet, similar in a sense, the connotations of one word are in different languages.

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Excellent, thank you for the links!

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You are welcome:)

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No, this is certainly a different word, with a different origin.

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The thing is that it is pronounced as "курбаши", not "курбаш".

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That would make sense... thanks for the help!

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Okay, that makes sense then. Thanks again!

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:))

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