Biritch

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Biritch (birich, biryuch Russian: бирич, бирюч) in Ancient Rus was a herald, an announcer of the will of a knyaz, sometimes kniaz's deputy in police or diplomatic affairs, or tax collector. A birich travelled to settlements, played bugle or horn in the center of a town square or yard to gather people and read the announcement.

The word is thought to be derived from a Turkic word for "bugler"/"hornist" (in modern Turkish: borucu, borazancı). Other hypotheses try to base the meanings on interpretations of the root bir-, meaning "to take" in Slavic langugages, deriving the meanig "tax collector".

Birich is mentioned in East Slavic manuscripts since the 10th century and until the end of the 17th century. The Laurentian Codex mentions under the year of 992 that knyaz Vladimir of Kiev, when looking for a volunteer to fight a Pecheneg baghatur have sent a birich in regiments. Later tsars of Muscovy announced various ukases via biriches. Heads of the Church also used biriches to announce their decrees. A birich was supposed to make an announcement in market place, not once but many times, somenimes during several months. Later other administrators (namestniks, voyevodas, etc.) had biriches in their staff, as mentioned in payrolls.

The word "biritch" was the name of a 19th century Russian card game, which is thought to be the origin of the contract bridge (see wikisource:Biritch, or Russian Whist).