Definitions
hearse
Etymology
About
The character 輴 is a phono-semantic compound that combines the semantic radical 車 (chē, meaning 'cart' or 'vehicle') with the phonetic element 盾 (dùn) to specify two special-purpose conveyances from ancient China: a hearse for coffins and a mud sled for swampy ground. In doing so, it associates the cart radical with both wheeled and sliding forms of transport. The character's meanings stem from historical funeral practices, the need to navigate challenging terrain, and the practical engineering of vehicles as recorded in ritual and historical writings.
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