Gazyr

Gazyr bag

A Georgian man in chokha

Baron Pyotr Wrangel in Russian Cossack uniform

A gazyr (via Russian: газырь from Turkish hazır, "ready", ultimately from Arabic; Chechen: Бустамаш bustamash, Georgian: მასრები masrebi) is an implement to hold a rifle charge: a tube with a bullet and a measure of gunpowder or a paper cartridge. They were carried in gazyr bags or in rows of small pockets on the breast. Later, gazyr pockets became a distinctive element of national dress of the peoples of Caucasus, such as the chokha.^[1]

Gazyr breast pockets ("gazyrs") were borrowed by Russian Cossacks, together with other elements of Caucasus peoples' outfit, as part of their military uniform.

See also

• Bandolier

References

1. Л. В. Беловински, "Газыри, хазыри, хозыри", in: "Иллюстрированный энциклопедический историко-бытовой словарь русского народа. XVIII — начало XIX в."/ Moscow, Eksmo, 2007, ISBN 978-5-699-24458-4, p. 115.