About
The character "戢", in its traditional form which remains current, is composed of the component "戈" meaning spear or weapon, combined with "咠" which historically conveyed a sense of whispering or gathering. Its original meaning was to gather and put away weapons, specifically to sheathe or store arms, thus implying the cessation of military action. This core sense of storing and restraining extended over time to encompass broader meanings of suppression or concealment, such as restraining one's ambitions or hiding objects from view. The structure of the character continues to visually suggest this idea of putting weapons to rest.
Etymology Hide
