Definitions
cut off the left ear of the slain
Etymology
About
聝 is a phono-semantic compound with the ear radical 耳 (ěr) on the left, indicating its semantic link to the ear. The right side, 或 (huò), provides the pronunciation and historically carried connotations of a territory. The character originally documented the ancient military practice of severing the left ears of slain enemies to tally casualties and claim merit. Due to its narrow, martial meaning, 聝 is rarely seen outside classical historical and military texts.
Etymology Hide
