馬酔木

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
馬	酔	木
あせび
Grade: 2	Grade: S	Grade: 1
jukujikun

Alternative spelling
馬醉木 (kyūjitai)

The original kun'yomi pronunciation of this word was ashibi, now considered a variant reading.

The leaves of the plant were known to intoxicate horses when eaten, causing horses to stumble and become weak in the legs. As such, this word is most likely a contraction of 足癈 (ashijihi, “numbness in the feet/legs”).

The kanji means literally "horse intoxicating tree".

Noun

馬酔木(あしび) • (ashibi)  (variant)

馬酔木(あしみ) • (ashimi)  (variant)

馬酔木(あせみ) • (asemi)  (variant)

馬酔木(あせも) • (asemo)  (variant)

馬酔木(あせぼ) • (asebo)  (variant)

馬酔木(あせぶ) • (asebu)  (variant)

馬酔木(あせび) or 馬酔木(アセビ) • (asebi)  (standard)

1. Pieris japonica: Japanese andromeda, a flowering shrub native to Japan

See also

• 馬酔木 on the Japanese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ja
• Pieris japonica on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
馬	酔	木
ば Grade: 2	すい Grade: S	ぼく Grade: 1
on’yomi

Alternative spelling
馬醉木 (kyūjitai)

The on'yomi of the kanji spelling 馬酔木.

Noun

馬(ば)酔(すい)木(ぼく) • (basuiboku) 

1. Pieris japonica: Japanese andromeda, a flowering shrub native to Japan