Russian bash: Letter

Thursday 17 October 1996 23:02 BST

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Sir: Far from being a purely English game (Miles Kington, 8 October; letter, 16 October), conkers is probably Russian by origin, probably brought over to Deptford in London by Peter the Great.

The Russian for horse-chestnut tree is konskii kashtan, and for conker, konka. Unfortunately, the Russians no longer play the game, otherwise it would qualify as an Olympic sport.

JOHN FURNIVAL

Woodchester, Gloucestershire

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