koto

Where does the word "koto" come from? It comes from Japanese koto, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Koto’s story begins in Japanese: koto meant “a long plucked zither.” Named the long, multi-stringed zither introduced from continental Asia and adapted at court. It reached English by 1800s as koto. Brought from China in the Nara period; the national instrument of Japan. Today, koto means a traditional Japanese plucked zither with movable bridges.

1. Stage 1 · Japanese · ancient koto "a long plucked zither", named the long, multi-stringed zither introduced from continental Asia and adapted at court.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s koto "a traditional Japanese thirteen-stringed zither", brought from China in the Nara period; the national instrument of Japan.