English
tsunami
Tsunami comes from Japanese 津波 ‘a tsunami, a tidal wave’.
- Japanesemodern津波tsunami‘a tsunami, a tidal wave’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007tsunami
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Japanesemodern津波tsunami‘a tsunami, a tidal wave’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007tsunami
Earliest quotation: 2007, Tina Kelley, A Wet Wind Tunnel So Ships Can Move Faster and Better: “A wave simulator in the tank can re-enact tsunamis…”
A compound of 津 ‘harbour’ + 波 ‘wave’
Every English word from Japanese 津波
Today it means
noun A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption; often a series of waves (a wave train).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Japanese 津波 / tsunami