Definitions
fontanel (gap between the bones of an infant's skull)
Etymology
Depicts the gap between the bones in an infant skull.
About
The character 囟, denoting the fontanelle on an infant's head, is etymologically a pictogram that visually represents the shape of a skull with a soft spot, as its structure outlines a head with an opening at the top marked by an internal cross or gap. This pictographic origin has directly informed the character's semantic focus on the cranial suture throughout its history, with its meaning remaining closely tied to this anatomical feature without expanding into unrelated domains. In modern usage, it appears primarily in compounds such as 囟门, where it conveys its specific reference to the soft spot, and its form has been standardized while retaining the essential elements of its early depiction.
Etymology Hide
