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Shuriken

2 stages from Japanese to English.

Today it means a small, sharp-edged Japanese throwing weapon, often called a 'throwing star'

Where does the word "shuriken" come from? It comes from Japanese shuriken, adopted directly into English (1900s-1980s).

shuriken→shuriken

Japanese · medieval

"a concealed throwing blade"

literally 'hand-hidden blade', a small throwing weapon used by ninja and samurai retainers

English · 1900s-1980s

"a small bladed throwing weapon, often star-shaped"

spread through martial-arts and ninja pop culture

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