netsuke

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

Netsuke’s story begins in Japanese: netsuke meant “a small carved fastening toggle.” Named the small carved toggle used to fasten a pouch to a kimono sash. It reached English by 1800s as netsuke. Toggles used to hang pouches from the sash of a kimono; Edmund de Waal's 'The Hare with Amber Eyes' (2010) tells of a netsuke collection. Today, netsuke means a small, intricately carved Japanese toggle, now collected as miniature sculpture.

1. Stage 1 · Japanese · 17th-18th century netsuke "a small carved fastening toggle", named the small carved toggle used to fasten a pouch to a kimono sash.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s netsuke "a miniature Japanese carved toggle, now prized as art", toggles used to hang pouches from the sash of a kimono; Edmund de Waal's 'The Hare with Amber Eyes' (2010) tells of a netsuke collection.