It literally translates to "without guardians" or "without protection".
The term gained prominence during the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war (1917-1922) when it was used to describe the large number of children who were orphaned or abandoned due to the conflict and its aftermath.
The term can evoke strong imagery of:
* Vulnerability: It suggests children left without the care and security of a home and family.
* Survival: It implies a struggle for basic necessities, and often an association with crime and hardship.
* Loss: It reflects the tragic consequences of war and societal upheaval on children.
"Bezprizorni" is not just a term but a powerful symbol of the human cost of revolution and conflict.