troika (TROI-kuh) noun

   1. A group of three persons, nations, etc. united in power or acting in
      unison.

   2. A Russian vehicle drawn by three horses harnessed side-by-side.

[From Russian troika, from troe (three).]

   "Or perhaps a collective presidency made up of three member states
   serving together as a troika for two and a half years."
   Jonathan Freedland, Adventures in Euroland, The Guardian (London),
   Feb 13, 2002.

This weeks's theme: words from Russian.

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/troika.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/troika.ram