Etymology Map
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Taiko

2 stages from Japanese to English.

Today it means large Japanese drums, or the ensemble drumming performance style built around them

Where does the word "taiko" come from? It comes from Japanese taiko, adopted directly into English (1950s-1960s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
taiko
Japanese · ancient
"a drum, especially a large barrel-shaped one"
the general word for drum, later specialized for large ensemble performance drums
2
Stage 2 of 2
taiko
English · 1950s-1960s
"large Japanese ensemble drumming or the drums used in it"
borrowed as Japanese-American drumming ensembles popularized the art form in the US
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