Definitions
Etymology
Pictograph of a bird with its two wings opened. Based on the original meaning "magpie", now written as 鵲. The current meaning "shoe" is a phonetic loan.
About
The character 舄 (xì) originated as a pictograph of a wooden shoe with a double-layered sole, designed to elevate the wearer above damp ground. Its structure outlines this elevated footwear, distinct from regular shoes. In classical texts, 舄 often appears in descriptions of formal court attire, denoting ceremonial shoes worn by nobles and officials during important rituals. While primarily associated with footwear, it later acquired a secondary meaning referring to a large, majestic bird, though this avian sense is far less common.
Etymology Hide
