Definitions
brindled ox; tawny, variegated
Etymology phono-semantic
ox
Semantic:
牛
About
The character 犖, traditionally structured with the ox radical 牛 and the component 勞, etymologically originated to designate a brindled or spotted ox, where 勞 likely functioned as a phonetic element. Its meaning gradually extended from this concrete reference to a distinctive animal toward describing anything conspicuous or eminent, as evidenced in classical usage such as the compound 卓荦 for denoting outstanding prominence. This semantic shift from a specific bovine characteristic to an abstract quality of distinction occurred within the framework of its consistent compositional form.
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