About
The character 鸩 (traditional: 鴆) is a phono-semantic compound. Its right-side radical 鳥 (simplified: 鸟) signals a connection to birds, while the left component 冘 provides the pronunciation. Historically, it referred to a legendary toxic bird in Chinese mythology; its feathers were believed to poison liquor, creating an undetectable lethal drink. Over time, the meaning expanded through metonymy: from the mythical bird itself, to the poisonous wine made from its feathers, and finally to a verb meaning to murder by poison. Thus, the term evolved from a specific mythological creature to a broader concept encompassing toxins and assassination.
Etymology Hide
