Where does “Japanese iris” come from?
Japanese iris (English) comes from English Japanese, from English Japan, from Dutch Japan, from Malay Jepang, from Hokkien 日本, from Middle Chinese 日本 — Land of the Rising Sun.
Japanese iris (English): A group of iris flower species native to or cultivated in East Asia, particularly in Japan, Korea, China, Russia, and Mongolia. Scientifically, the three primary species are Iris ensata, Iris laevigata, and Iris sanguinea
Definitions
- A group of iris flower species native to or cultivated in East Asia, particularly in Japan, Korea, China, Russia, and Mongolia. Scientifically, the three primary species are Iris ensata, Iris laevigata, and Iris sanguinea
Ancestry of “Japanese iris”, step by step
Japanese iris traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English Japanese
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Japanese | Of, relating to, or derived from Japan, its... |
| 2 | English | Japan | A hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt |
| 3 | Dutch | Japan | — |
| 4 | Malay | Jepang | Japanese |
| 5 | Hokkien | 日本 | Japan; Japanese; Japan |
| 6 | Middle Chinese | 日本 | Land of the Rising Sun |
via English Iris
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Iris | A messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows |
| 2 | Latin | Īris | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | Ἶρις | Iris |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Ἴρις | — |
via Translingual Iris japonica
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Translingual | Iris japonica | species |
| 2 | Translingual | Iris | genus |