大蛇

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
大	蛇
おお > お Grade: 1	ろち Grade: S
irregular

/woro₂ti/: *[worəti] → [woroti] → [orotɕi]. Possibly from 尾ろ (woro₂, “tail”) +‎ 霊 (chi, “spirit”). The kanji are jukujikun (熟字訓).

Noun

大(お)蛇(ろち) • (orochi) ^{←をろち (woroti)?}

1. (literal) a large snake
   • 938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō, volume 8, page 55:

     虵 [...] 一名久知奈波、日本紀私記云、虵、乎路知 [...] 毒虫也 [...]

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
大	蛇
だい Grade: 1	じゃ Grade: S
on’yomi

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

大(だい)蛇(じゃ) • (daija) 

1. (literal) a large snake

See also

• 八(ヤ)岐(マタノ)大(オ)蛇(ロチ) (Yamatanōrochi)
• 蟒(うわ)蛇(ばみ) (uwabami)
• 蛇(くちなわ) (kuchinawa), 蛇(へび) (hebi), 蛇(へみ) (hemi)

References

• Minamoto, Shitagō with Kyōto Daigaku Bungakubu Kokugogaku Kokubungaku Kenkyūshitu (931–938) Shohon Shūsei Wamyō Ruijushō: Honbunhen (in Japanese), Kyōto: Rinsen, published 1968, →ISBN.