zek

From Russian зэ́к (zɛ́k), probably representing a pronunciation of з/к (z/k), Soviet abbreviation of заключённый (zaključónnyj, “prisoner”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /zɛk/

zek (plural zeks)

1. A prisoner at a Russian prison, especially (historical) at a Soviet labour camp. [from 20th c.]
   • 1988, Stefani Hoffman, translating Natan Sharansky, Fear No Evil, p. 235:

     Every prisoner who recants is a potential influence on other zeks to do likewise.

   • 2004, Jason Burke, The Observer, 8 Feb 2004:

     There are the zeks, the survivors of the gulags, some honest about their experiences, others still deluded or traumatised decades later.

• Kez

zek

1. Soft mutation of dek.