Etymology+Of+Bolshevism

Bolshevism in essence comes from below, a strong connotation of "great" and a communal ideal.

[|**Bolshevik**] 1917, from Rus. //bol'shiy// "greater," comp. of adj. //bol'shoy// "big, great" (cf. //Bolshoi Ballet//), from O.C.S. //boljiji// "larger," from PIE base //*bel-// "strong" (cf. Skt. //balam// "strength, force," Gk. //beltion// "better," Phrygian //balaios// "big, fast," O.Ir. //odbal// "strong," Welsh //balch// "proud;" M.Du., Low Ger., Fris. //pal// "strong, firm"). It was the faction of Russian Social Democratic Worker's Party after a split in 1903 that was either larger or more extreme (or both) than the //Mensheviks// (from Rus. //men'shij// "less"); after they seized power in 1917, applied generally to Rus. communists. //Bolshevism// is recorded from 1917.