kendo

Where does the word "kendo" come from? It comes from Japanese kendō, and was adopted directly into English (20th century).

Kendo’s story begins in Japanese: kendō meant “the way of the sword; bamboo-sword fencing.” Literally 'way of the sword', a modern sport codified from older samurai swordsmanship. It reached English by 20th century as kendo. Borrowed as the sport spread internationally through martial-arts federations. Today, kendo means a modern Japanese martial art of fencing using bamboo swords and protective armor.

1. Stage 1 · Japanese · late 1800s kendō "the way of the sword; bamboo-sword fencing", literally 'way of the sword', a modern sport codified from older samurai swordsmanship.
2. Stage 2 · English · 20th century kendo "Japanese fencing practiced with bamboo swords and armor", borrowed as the sport spread internationally through martial-arts federations.