Where does “水無月” come from?

水無月 (Old Japanese) comes from Old Japanese な, from Old Japanese の, from Middle Chinese 能 — talent, ability.

水無月 (Old Japanese): the sixth month of the lunar calendar

Definitions

  1. the sixth month of the lunar calendar

Ancestry of “水無月”, step by step

水無月 traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Japanese な

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Japaneseなany sharp and thin cutting implement: a blade,...
2Old Japaneseのplain, field
3Middle Chinese能talent, ability

via Old Japanese 月

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Japanese月the moon; a month; a menstrual cycle,...
2Proto-Japonictukuymoon
3Proto-Japonictuku—

via Old Japanese 水

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Japanese水water
2Proto-Japonic*mentuwater
Every word from Middle Chinese 能 →Every word from Old Japanese の →Every word from Old Japanese な →