The word comes from a 15th-century proverb about fathers admonishing their sons who are being married off for money to not get emotionally involved with their wives, as they could die at any time.
Слово появилось в XV веке, и означало отцов, предостерегавших своих сыновей от брака ради денег, на девушках, к которым не имели чувств, и которые были при смерти.