橐

tuó

䂞 + 一 + 中 + 冖

Definitions

tuó sack; tube open at both ends; (onom.) footsteps

Etymology

Pictograph of a bag with both ends tied. Similar in origin to 東 and 束. 石 represents the sound. As a component in other characters, 石 is almost always omitted.

About

橐 began as a pictograph of a bag tied at both ends, similar to 東 and 束, used for carrying loads on one's back or pack animals. Today's character incorporates the sound component 石, hiding the original sack shape. Over time, it also came to mean mechanical bellows, leather bags blacksmiths used to pump air into forges and stoke fires. When 橐 appears as a component in other characters, the 石 is almost always omitted.