(ˈ)kü|lak, -|läk also (ˈ)kyü|lak noun
( plural kulaks -ks ; also kula·ki ̷ ̷ˈlakē, ̷ ̷ˈläkē)
Etymology: Russian, literally, fist, of Turkic origin; akin to Turkish kol arm
1. : a prosperous or wealthy peasant farmer in 19th century Russia often associated with gaining profit from renting land, usury, or acting as a middleman in the sale of the products of other farmers
2. : a farmer characterized by Communists as having excessive wealth usually by possession of more than a minimal amount of property and ability to hire laborers or sometimes merely by unwillingness to join a collective farm and as a result denounced as an oppressor of less fortunate farmers and subjected to severe penalties (as heavy fines and confiscation of property)
a large proportion of the kulaks of the twenties were liquidated — L.K.Soth