Definitions
black millet
Etymology
About
The character "秬" is structured as a semantic-phonetic compound with the radical "禾" signifying grain and the component "巨" providing phonetic indication. Its etymology points to an initial meaning of black millet, a definition recorded in early texts like the "Classic of Poetry". This referent was later incorporated into the classical term "秬鬯" for a ritual wine derived from that millet. While the character's form has not altered, its usage gradually narrowed to archaic or literary contexts without substantive change to its core meaning.
Etymology Hide
