(in Russia or the Soviet Union) a peasants' or workers' cooperative; an association of workers or peasants for collective effort.
Origin: 1880–85; < Russ artél', perh. ult. < a deriv. of Turkic ort- middle (cf. Turk ortak partner, ortaklιk association), though identity of suffixed element(s) unclear
[ahr-tel] 
