About
觳 originally denoted a horn-made drinking vessel or measuring cup, and also described a state of trembling or exhaustion. Structurally, it combines the phonetic element 𣪊 on the left with the semantic radical 角 (meaning horn) on the right, indicating the material of the vessel. Its meaning developed along two lines: one referring to measuring tools and volumetric units, and the other appearing in classical texts to depict shivering from cold, fear, or weakness.
Etymology Hide
