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tsunami

a large, destructive ocean wave caused by an earthquake or other underwater disturbance

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Where does the word "tsunami" come from? It comes from Japanese tsunami, and was adopted directly into English (1896).

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Where does the word "tsunami" come from? It comes from Japanese tsunami, and was adopted directly into English (1896).

Tsunami’s story begins in Japanese: tsunami meant “harbor wave.” Literally "harbor wave", named for the damage seen in coastal harbors. It reached English by 1896 as tsunami. Entered English reporting after the Sanriku earthquake and wave. Today, tsunami means a large, destructive ocean wave caused by an earthquake or other underwater disturbance.

  1. Stage 1 · Japanese · historic tsunami "harbor wave", literally "harbor wave", named for the damage seen in coastal harbors.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1896 tsunami "a large sea wave caused by an undersea disturbance", entered English reporting after the Sanriku earthquake and wave.

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