そらみつ
Old Japanese
Alternative forms
Etymology
First attested in the Kojiki (712 CE).
Original derivation likely unknown.[1][2] Theories include:
- The Nihon Shoki (720 CE) derives this pillow word from 空 (so1ra, “empty space → sky”) + 見 (mi1, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 見る (mi1ru), “to see”) + つ (tu, possessive particle).
- Mi1tu is most likely 満つ (mi1tu), basis of modern 満たす (mitasu, “to fill”, transitive) and 満ちる (michiru, “to be full”, intransitive). By this derivation, "sky-filling or -spreading", rather than "sky-seen", is a more likely interpretation for this pillow word.
- Mi1tu is likely a pun on 御津 (mi1-tu, “harbor, port”, honorific), referring to the port in Naniwa, present-day Osaka, where it was the main hub for government ships.
(Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)
Adnominal
そらみつ (so1ra mi1tu)
- a pillow word of uncertain meaning, allusion to 大和 (Yamato2, a placename, especially “Yamato Province”)
Quotations
For quotations using this term, see Citations:そらみつ.
Derived terms
- 空に満つ (so1ra ni mi1tu)
References
- ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN