The word ‘khalatnost’ (negligence) appeared in Russian thanks to writers

Linguists credit Nikolai Gogol with coining the word ‘khalatnost’ (‘negligence’). He first used it in his novel ‘Dead Souls’ (1842), and later, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin adopted it in the 1860s and then other writers.

In the 19th century, a ‘khalat’ (dressing gown) was typical homewear for nobles, and some even wore it outside, which created ironic associations with laziness. The word became so ingrained that by 1922, it was officially recognized as a legal term.