noh

Where does the word "noh" come from? It comes from Japanese nō, and was adopted directly into English (early 1900s).

Noh’s story begins in Japanese: nō meant “skill, talent; a classical masked drama form.” Named a masked, stylized form of musical drama refined for the samurai court. It reached English by early 1900s as noh. Entered English theater criticism as Japanese drama became known in the West. Today, noh means a classical Japanese form of masked, highly stylized musical theater.

1. Stage 1 · Japanese · 14th century nō "skill, talent; a classical masked drama form", named a masked, stylized form of musical drama refined for the samurai court.
2. Stage 2 · English · early 1900s noh "classical Japanese masked musical drama", entered English theater criticism as Japanese drama became known in the West.